Fitchburg, WI Fitch-Rona EMS Commission Annual District Meeting 10-15-26

The Fitch-Rona EMS Commission annual district meeting was held October 15, 2026. The chief presented the 2027 operating and capital budgets, which had been submitted to Fitchburg, Verona, and the Town of Verona for their approval processes. The budget plan gradually expands peak-time ambulance coverage using permanent part-time staffing, aiming for four days of 12-hour coverage in 2028 and seven days by 2030. The proposed municipal cost allocation is 63.7% Fitchburg, 32.2% Verona, and 4.1% Town of Verona. The chief reported a 2025 unassigned fund balance of about $2.08 million and described prior commission resolutions reallocating funds while maintaining a 35% reserve, including support for two paid paramedic interns and equipment and vehicle needs.

Capital planning includes replacing an ambulance scheduled for delivery in June 2027, at an estimated $337,000 for the vehicle plus about $120,000 for equipment. The district also discussed ambulance fleet maintenance, replacement of a 17-year-old support vehicle, and purchasing an autoload system and preventive-maintenance coverage in advance of a price increase; a bid from one of two vendors was selected for the support-vehicle project, though the vendor was not identified. A local software company donation and state funds will also contribute to that vehicle. No procurement vote was recorded at this meeting; the minutes were approved, and the 2027 budgets remained in the municipal review process.