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Port Edwards flags steep ambulance fee rise as budget talks begin
Summary
At a Village of Port Edwards budget work session, officials warned the community-facing ambulance contract could rise from $26 to $56 per resident and invited the service provider to present options at a November meeting, leaving funding and the village’s response open for committee review.
The Village of Port Edwards began its 2026 budget work session by alerting board members to a sharp potential increase in ambulance costs that could affect next year’s tax bills.
The village president said the village’s ambulance coverage with Wisconsin Rapids remains in place for two more years but that the provider has signaled a significant fee increase. “It’s going from the $26 per capita to 56,” the village president said, and officials distributed a packet with detailed explanations for trustees to review.
Why it matters: The higher per-capita fee would increase operating costs across municipalities that share the service. The president and staff said the Rapids representatives may visit the board in November to answer questions and that the village will need to decide whether to accept a proposed two-year arrangement that would align municipalities on a common rotation.
Board members and staff framed the conversation as informational rather than decisive. Ben, the administrator, and other staff asked trustees to compile questions for the provider and noted that the final budget will depend on several outstanding numbers, including state shared revenue and the yet-to-be-set health-care premiums.
What’s next: Officials said they expect the ambulance provider to present firm terms at an upcoming committee-of-the-whole meeting in early November so trustees can evaluate the cost implications before finalizing the 2026 budget.
No formal vote was taken during the work session; the discussion will continue at committee meetings and when the provider meets the board.
