A resolution approved offering a six-month contract with the municipalities to provide Ambulance Service to the community
Tricia Clements, Richland County Administrator
On October 20, 2026, the Richland County Board of Supervisors passed Resolution 26-65, which rescinded Resolutions 26-22 and 26-34 and provided an updated plan for Richland County EMS. This resolution approved offering a six-month contract with the municipalities to provide Ambulance Service to the community starting January 1, 2027 and ending June 30, 2027.
This resolution also restructured the funding mechanism by returning the responsibility for providing ambulance service to the towns, including those that directly use Richland EMS service. The municipalities were notified in September that the county would no longer be levying outside of the levy limit for ambulance service. For those with a contract with Richland EMS, they were notified of the amount they would be responsible to pay for the
service, followed by an ask for their interest in continuing to contract for 2027. Due to not getting a commitment from all municipalities, Richland County needed to adjust the contract duration to have the least fiscal impact on the county budget.
In making this decision, there were three main points that were taken into consideration. The first was what happens with staff from Richland EMS. The second was making sure the community has access to EMS until a new plan could be put in place. The final was giving municipalities ample time to find another solution. We feel that we have addressed all of the concerns. The first was by finalizing a contract with SEUI, the union representing the employees, that set up a severance package if the service ends. Second, this time frame gives
the municipalities 8 months to find an alternative plan. And finally, we agree to continue the service for the first six months of the year.
Multiple municipalities in Richland County had passed resolutions opposing the county’s intention to support all county ambulance services through a Countywide Emergency Medical System, which includes levying outside of the levy limit. These resolutions looked to join together in legal and regulatory action against Richland County regarding the use of the EMS Levy limit exemption. After consulting with legal counsel, the county has made the decision to change what it intended to fund.
The County continues to provide a Countywide Emergency Medical System through Emergency Medical Dispatch and Communications. These are services that the county is not required to provide related to emergency medical response but have made the determination these are valuable services to provide to the community and serve the entire community.
Questions, comments or concerns can be directed to your County Board Supervisor or County Administrator as we know this has been a very challenging topic of discussion for the county, municipalities and the community.
There is also a FAQ document on the county’s website that continues to be updated.
Adam Hess has been involved in radio broadcasting since 1990, with many of those years spent on the air at WRCO FM in Richland Center. Currently, Adam hosts the Weekend Wake-up and Prime Mover Saturdays on WRCO FM, jumps in and helps out with news duties, handles Social Media duties for WRCO and WRCE, and is the Director of Technology at a Southwest Wisconsin School District. Reach him at adam.hess@civicmedia.us.
