Public Safety Committee Meeting

The Washington County, Wisconsin Public Safety Committee meeting on August 20, 2026, focused extensively on procurement and budgetary discussions related to the countywide EMS system and shared IT services with the Village of Germantown Police Department. The committee reviewed a proposal for a shared full-time IT position to support both the sheriff's office and Germantown Police, discussing cost-sharing arrangements and potential shifts from fully county-funded to a 50/50 or 75/25 split. The main agenda centered on the EMS system funding, including the length of the service agreement, operational cost increase caps, and funding sources such as the EMS levy and sales tax. The committee debated a recommended five-year agreement term, a 2% to 4% annual operational cost increase with a 6% cap requiring committee approval, and the goal of achieving tax rate neutrality. They also discussed smart goals for EMS providers to improve efficiency and potential regional cooperation to reduce costs. The committee passed a motion directing the county executive and staff to proceed with the five-year agreement and the specified cost increase parameters, aiming to finalize the EMS proposal for county board consideration. No specific contract awards or vendor selections were made during this meeting, but policy and budget decisions were clearly outlined to guide future procurement and funding activities.