Council Informational Budget Meeting 10-06-2026

The City of Mishawaka held an informational budget meeting on October 6, 2026, focused on proposed EMS fee changes and service operations. Officials said rates had last been adjusted in 2022 and discussed updated cost data, including medical-supply spending rising from $150,000 to $220,500 (about 47%). The proposed resident fee for an advanced-life-support non-transport call would increase from $360 to $500. Officials explained that collections average about $382 per trip across payers and that government reimbursement rates are not set by the city. No fee-schedule vote or approval is evident in the transcript. Council members suggested reviewing city fees annually and potentially adding that review to the budget process; staff considered the suggestion reasonable.

Officials also described Crosswalk Health, a proposed 911 nurse-triage and care-navigation service intended to direct some lower-acuity callers to appropriate local care while keeping EMS resources available. The service was described as free to the city and callers, with implementation contingent on further coordination and review; no contract award, city expenditure, or vendor-selection vote was identified. The discussion indicated the service might be brought before the council later, with timing still to be confirmed.