Sugar River Emergency Medical Services District officials said Wednesday that recent votes by York, Perry and Primrose could allow the district to keep its 2027 municipal funding rate at about $70 per person despite higher operating costs.

The update came during an Oct. 7 public hearing at New Glarus Village Hall on the district’s proposed 2027 budget. Deputy Chief Josh Wescott said the district had prepared two versions of the budget because officials did not know on Sept. 1 whether the additional communities would join.

Since then, the towns of York and Perry have voted to join Sugar River EMS, and Primrose has also voted to move to Sugar River EMS for 2027. The additions are not yet final, however, because the district’s existing member municipalities must still approve resolutions accepting the new communities.

Wescott said the larger service area and additional population would allow the district to hold the municipal rate at roughly $70 per person next year. He noted that costs are still rising, including fuel and other ambulance operating expenses, but said the proposed budget was built with those increases in mind.