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Committee debates Wabacka fire/EMS contract; asks chief to negotiate stronger inflation protections
Summary
The finance committee reviewed a proposed three-year fire protection/EMS contract with Wabacka Fire Department that would raise the village's payment by 1.5% annually; members said 1.5% likely lags equipment and operating cost inflation and asked staff to track calls/costs and pursue a higher increase or alternative billing structure before the Jan. 1 effective date.
Committee members reviewed a proposed three-year fire protection and EMS contract with Wabacka Fire Department covering specified sections of the village and nearby areas. Brian (speaker S2) summarized the service area and the draft contract terms, including the contractor's proposed annual increase of 1.5%.
Chris (budget presenter, S3) and several trustees questioned whether a 1.5% increase keeps pace with equipment and operating-cost inflation. "1.5% ... does not even keep up with inflation," Chris said during the discussion, and trustees urged tracking true call volume and costs to develop a stronger negotiating position.
Members debated several options: accept the contract with the 1.5% increase, ask for a higher annual percentage (3% was suggested by multiple trustees as closer to recent inflation), or seek a one-time higher increase now followed by a lower ongoing rate to "catch up" with prior under-indexing. Trustees also discussed developing a cost-per-call or usage-based mechanism, but noted it would require better tracking and unusual administrative effort for this market.
No final contract vote was taken. The committee directed the chief and staff to review call counts and costs, discuss the options with Wabacka's leadership (the contract decision ultimately involves their corporate approval), and return with recommended terms ahead of the contract's Jan. 1 effective date.
