Village of New Berlin rejects ambulance proposal
NEW BERLIN – The Village of New Berlin board voted unanimously to reject a plan to form an ambulance district with the towns of New Berlin and Columbus Tuesday night at a special board meeting.
According to Supervisor Ross Iannello, the idea has been in the works for two years. Currently, the village ambulance service provides for the three districts and taxes are collected in conjunction with the fire service tax.
The current contract is in effect until 2013, and communities have the option of giving six months’ notice before pulling out.
Under the proposed plan, a single tax district would be formed and create two separate tax lines in the budget for fire and ambulance services.
Terry Hannigan, an attorney with ambulance experience, was contracted by both towns to assist in the planning and formation of the district.
“What this agreement does is provide one line and one cost for EMS services on the budget,” said Hannigan. “It’s so you’ll know exactly what you’re paying and what everyone else is paying.”
Initial estimates had Columbus residents paying a tax rate of .319 per thousand and New Berlin residents paying .358 per thousand. However, Hannigan explained that these numbers would most likely change as the agreement continued to develop.
Hannigan also said that the ambulance tax district would not be run by the town boards, but instead by a not-for-profit organization that would be created by the three municipalities and include a board of directors made up of members of each community.
Village of New Berlin attorney David Merzig explained that the purpose of the district was to collect taxes to pay for the ambulance service. He stated that it was the district’s job to decide how they would provide that service.
“If you collect the taxes, you have to provide the service,” he said. “But it’s entirely up to you who you contract with.”
Iannello expressed concerns about declining the agreement and stated that many people had worked hard to form the plan.
“If we don’t remove the politics from the system, we’re going to end up without an ambulance again,” said Iannello.
The towns of Columbus and New Berlin had approved resolutions to form the ambulance districts during previous weeks.
“I’m sure there will be further discussion at this month’s meeting,” said Columbus Councilman Bruce Vermeulen.
Village of New Berlin Mayor Terry Potter said he thought there would be more concerns expressed and further discussion during last night’s meeting.
“There’s a lot of work ahead and some big issues that have to be fixed,” said Potter. “From here, we just make sure we fulfill the contract obligations.”
The monthly village board meeting will take place next Tuesday.
According to Supervisor Ross Iannello, the idea has been in the works for two years. Currently, the village ambulance service provides for the three districts and taxes are collected in conjunction with the fire service tax.
The current contract is in effect until 2013, and communities have the option of giving six months’ notice before pulling out.
Under the proposed plan, a single tax district would be formed and create two separate tax lines in the budget for fire and ambulance services.
Terry Hannigan, an attorney with ambulance experience, was contracted by both towns to assist in the planning and formation of the district.
“What this agreement does is provide one line and one cost for EMS services on the budget,” said Hannigan. “It’s so you’ll know exactly what you’re paying and what everyone else is paying.”
Initial estimates had Columbus residents paying a tax rate of .319 per thousand and New Berlin residents paying .358 per thousand. However, Hannigan explained that these numbers would most likely change as the agreement continued to develop.
Hannigan also said that the ambulance tax district would not be run by the town boards, but instead by a not-for-profit organization that would be created by the three municipalities and include a board of directors made up of members of each community.
Village of New Berlin attorney David Merzig explained that the purpose of the district was to collect taxes to pay for the ambulance service. He stated that it was the district’s job to decide how they would provide that service.
“If you collect the taxes, you have to provide the service,” he said. “But it’s entirely up to you who you contract with.”
Iannello expressed concerns about declining the agreement and stated that many people had worked hard to form the plan.
“If we don’t remove the politics from the system, we’re going to end up without an ambulance again,” said Iannello.
The towns of Columbus and New Berlin had approved resolutions to form the ambulance districts during previous weeks.
“I’m sure there will be further discussion at this month’s meeting,” said Columbus Councilman Bruce Vermeulen.
Village of New Berlin Mayor Terry Potter said he thought there would be more concerns expressed and further discussion during last night’s meeting.
“There’s a lot of work ahead and some big issues that have to be fixed,” said Potter. “From here, we just make sure we fulfill the contract obligations.”
The monthly village board meeting will take place next Tuesday.
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