Richland County approves $35,000 study of ambulance models amid concern over future service
January 25, 2026 | Richland County, Wisconsin
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The Richland County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 13 approved using contingency funds to hire Strategic Management Consulting for a $35,000 study of ambulance and emergency medical services models, a step officials said is intended to clarify options ahead of contract renewals and potential state Innovation Grant deadlines.
County Administrator Clemons said the county solicited three proposals and chose Strategic Management Consulting because the firm would provide recommendations and a timely analysis. “We don’t want to rush this,” Clemons said, adding the county asked the consultant to balance thoroughness with a reasonable timeline so municipalities can plan.
Supervisors pressed staff about whether the study could lead Richland County to stop operating ambulance services directly. Supervisor Engel said privatization could lower cooperative funding initially but warned it could raise costs and affect public safety over time: “If the townships don’t have the funding mechanisms to provide that…public safety might go down,” Engel said. Administrator Clemons responded that third‑party providers sometimes are the best option in some areas but that consultants will recommend the model that best fits local needs.
Board members discussed the state Innovation Grant, which Clemons said can provide transitional funding if a governmental entity discontinues a service; Clemons described the grant as providing a portion of prior service expenditures for up to five years but cautioned there are no guarantees. Supervisors also raised distribution issues if the county levied countywide for ambulance service and residents of parts of the county already served by other ambulance districts would be taxed.
The resolution passed after discussion; the board recorded two opposing votes. Clemons said staff expects to ask participating municipalities to attend meetings and aims to complete planning well ahead of the county’s next contract deadlines so purchasing and capital planning can proceed.
The board did not adopt any firm operational decisions at the meeting; the study is intended to produce options, cost estimates and recommendations for the board’s later consideration.
Next steps: staff will proceed with the consultant contract and continue municipal outreach; supervisors indicated they expect the study’s findings to inform decisions to be made before major contract and capital purchase deadlines in 2026.
County Administrator Clemons said the county solicited three proposals and chose Strategic Management Consulting because the firm would provide recommendations and a timely analysis. “We don’t want to rush this,” Clemons said, adding the county asked the consultant to balance thoroughness with a reasonable timeline so municipalities can plan.
Supervisors pressed staff about whether the study could lead Richland County to stop operating ambulance services directly. Supervisor Engel said privatization could lower cooperative funding initially but warned it could raise costs and affect public safety over time: “If the townships don’t have the funding mechanisms to provide that…public safety might go down,” Engel said. Administrator Clemons responded that third‑party providers sometimes are the best option in some areas but that consultants will recommend the model that best fits local needs.
Board members discussed the state Innovation Grant, which Clemons said can provide transitional funding if a governmental entity discontinues a service; Clemons described the grant as providing a portion of prior service expenditures for up to five years but cautioned there are no guarantees. Supervisors also raised distribution issues if the county levied countywide for ambulance service and residents of parts of the county already served by other ambulance districts would be taxed.
The resolution passed after discussion; the board recorded two opposing votes. Clemons said staff expects to ask participating municipalities to attend meetings and aims to complete planning well ahead of the county’s next contract deadlines so purchasing and capital planning can proceed.
The board did not adopt any firm operational decisions at the meeting; the study is intended to produce options, cost estimates and recommendations for the board’s later consideration.
Next steps: staff will proceed with the consultant contract and continue municipal outreach; supervisors indicated they expect the study’s findings to inform decisions to be made before major contract and capital purchase deadlines in 2026.
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