WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) — As local communities refine their 2026 spending plans, Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Matt Zacher says his city is exploring mutual aid agreements for emergency services with neighboring communities.
Zacher says changes to funding formulas have caused them to look at who is paying what, and where the first responders are going when the call for help comes in. “The call volumes keep increasing, so eventually you need more people. And if 25% of your call volume is to these contracted areas, then you have to talk to these surrounding communities about what is going to be fair.”
The Mayor says he is approaching these discussions carefully to maintain trust with those partners. “I know that we aren’t going to love the conversation, but at the same time we have to trust that it is a conversation that has to be had, and we are doing this as fairly as possible.”
One option being discussed would involve sharing the costs of running the ambulance service instead of having each community hire its own staff and purchase equipment.
Zacher says the discussions will continue, and any modified agreements will require council approval.
Other topics Zacher discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner include:
Start of video- Budget time
4:30- EMS fees
9:30- Halloween activities
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