Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Whitefish Bay backs NorthShore Fire capital plan, levy-exception and 2.6% EMS fee increase
Summary
At its Oct. 7 meeting, the Whitefish Bay Village Board approved three NorthShore Fire Department items — a multi-year capital budget (2025—229), a levy-limit exception for joint fire departments and a 2.6% increase to EMS fees — on a combined motion; the measures require all seven member municipalities' adoption to take full effect.
The Whitefish Bay Village Board voted Oct. 7 to adopt three NorthShore Fire Department measures: a single multi-year capital budget for 2025—229, a state-authorized levy-limit exception for joint fire departments, and an updated fee schedule that raises EMS fees by 2.6%.
Chief Whitaker, appearing by Zoom, told trustees that vehicle lead times and industry price increases motivated extending the capital plan through 2029: “ambulances are now at about an 18-month window to get, and Fire Equipment like engines and ladder trucks are up to 3 to 4 years to get from the time you order,” he said. He also said prices for equipment have risen roughly 30% over the past three to four years.
The levy-limit exception is a state-authorized mechanism that allows joint fire departments to claim an adjustment to municipal levies; Chief Whitaker said the resolution must be adopted by all seven member municipalities for any one to use it and estimated Whitefish Bay could claim roughly $94,000 for 2025. Jamie, village finance staff, told the board that Whitefish Bay typically has not used the exception but that preliminary conversations with the new village manager indicated staff likely will use it this year to create levy capacity.
On fees, Chief Whitaker said the proposed 2.6% EMS increase was calculated using the 12-month average CPI for medical care and related commodities and would take effect Jan. 1, 2025 if all member communities adopt the schedule.
A trustee moved to adopt Resolutions 3164, 3165 and 3166 together as recommended by the NorthShore board; Jacob seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote with no recorded roll call.
What happens next: the measures apply only if all seven NorthShore member municipalities adopt them at the municipal-government level. Chief Whitaker said departmental materials and capital schedules are available on the NorthShore agenda website, and he offered to share additional budget detail with local staff and trustees as municipalities finalize budgets.
