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Budget committee backs plan to transition to town-run ambulance service, approves related funding
Summary
Wolfeboro's budget committee recommended a package of warrant articles to transition ambulance operations to a town-run fire-based service, including $1.88 million for first-year staffing and an ambulance purchase; committee votes to recommend ranged from 9-1 to 9-0-1.
The Wolfeboro Budget Committee on Jan. 13 recommended a package of warrant articles to create a fire-based, town-operated ambulance service and to fund near-term contracted ambulance costs should voters not approve the full transition.
A primary warrant article would raise $1,884,966 to establish a fire-based ambulance program, including wages to hire four firefighter/EMS personnel effective July 1, 2026, related benefits, operating expenses and the purchase of a fully equipped ambulance. Town manager Jim Peneo explained the appropriation and said the selectboard previously approved the plan by a 4-1 vote. The committee recommended the article 9-1.
The committee separately recommended an impact-negotiations article to fund $96,104 in 2026 costs tied to collective-bargaining impacts (covering adjustments for 13 full-time staff), passing that recommendation by the same 9-1 margin. It also recommended $292,000 for contracted ambulance services through Dec. 31, 2026 (combined with operating-line funds to total $568,080) by a roll-call vote that recorded 9 yes, 0 no and 1 abstention.
During public comment, residents asked what would happen if warrant articles failed. The town manager said staff would accelerate an internal transition plan and that some contracted coverage from Stewart's would continue during a period of change, but that failing some articles would likely require earlier operational changes.
Betsy Andrews, a resident who asked several clarifying questions during the hearing, noted the combined cost to maintain contracted service was roughly $568,000 for 2026. "That is correct," the town manager replied during the exchange.
The committee's recommendations will move to the deliberative session; the articles include an estimated 2026 tax-rate impact of $0.22 per $1,000 for the ambulance-staffing article and smaller cents-per-thousand impacts for the related items.
