To the Taxpayers of the City of Buffalo City:
Buffalo City finds that it is necessary to address a few issues concerning Scenic Valley Emergency Medical Services that have surfaced lately and reflect poorly on us and other communities in our immediate area. The accusation that the government bodies in the SVEMs response area are unwilling to support this service is untrue and a blatant exaggeration in an attempt to increase their funding 266% percent in one year by misleading the public. The City of Buffalo City entered into these negotiations in good faith, not only listening and asking pertinent questions; but offering multiple alternative options to increase the funding for SVEMS; one of which provided double the funds they had been previously receiving. All were rejected by SVEMS as unacceptable.
SVEMS was set up as a free standing, not for profit corporation. As a corporation they have the ability to set their pricing each year to make sure they cover operational expenses and set aside funds to provide for future capital requirements while limiting the burden on the local taxpayers. SVEMS has not systematically increased their pricing even though costs increased with the first increase in many years taking place in 2020. During all of these many years, the local communities have supported SVEMS with money to help them defray their costs and expenses. This year the increase would have created a huge burden on some of the municipalities involved. The increase requested from this publicly supported corporation was demanded without sharing any detailed financial information or submitting a budget which would have demonstrated the need. Members of the community boards asked for additional financials at the numerous meetings held on this subject. Among the items requested were: Current cash reserves; 2020 cash received to date (to see effect of 2020 rate increase) and current Accounts Receivables. We were told on multiple occasions that this information was not our concern. We attempted to assist SVEMS numerous times to fulfill our requests by submitting to them a simple Budget template along with an offer to help them develop a budget since they’d apparently never done it before. Our assistance was declined. We were told that information on outstanding claim receivables was unavailable until the end of the year. Turns out that they have 24/7 access to all information and reports through their billing service but don’t utilize it. Again we offered assistance but were again turned down. This letter is not to denigrate a single individual in the SVEMS organization as they are dedicated, caring individuals who have put their heart and soul in public service. Between SVEMS and the Tri Community Fire Department there is nothing that can be said but thank you, your dedication to our community is often understated but it is our heartfelt desire that in all our hearts you are a huge core of our communities.
We are disappointed that SVEMS decided to publicly criticize our local governments instead of truly negotiating. Buffalo City was particularly insulted when accused of not supporting the service when our only full-time employee is allowed to be on call as an EMT every hour of every day they are working for us. When they get a call to go work for SVEMS; we continue to pay our employee for those 2 -3 hours or more they are away from their job for an ambulance call. We had hoped to come to a mutual agreement with SVEMS but their refusal to negotiate anything other than their original request for $27.50 per capita or attempt to manage the financial resources they need to pay the $2.00 per hour on-call pay created an insurmountable obstacle. It is our opinion that SVEMS should accept the budgeted $10.00 per capita (A 33% increase) from the local municipalities in their continued support and that the billing rates should be revisited so that SVEMS
remain mostly self-sufficient.
Even though not required by State of Wisconsin law; Buffalo City is committed to making sure our citizens have 24/7 availability of Emergency Medical Services.
SVEMS need for additional volunteers is real. Please consider volunteering your time to help your community by becoming a driver or signing up to take the classes required to become an EMT. There is great personal satisfaction gained from helping your community, friends and neighbors.
