CARIBOU, Maine – Caribou city councilors have approved raising annual fire and ambulance rates on surrounding towns for the first time in nearly five years.
For eight communities in the greater Caribou area, rates for fire and EMS or just EMS coverage will increase by 15 percent. Caribou officials said the councils’s 5-1 vote on Monday will help lessen the burden on city taxpayers but the move will likely have negative financial consequences on smaller communities already feeling the effects of higher bills for emergency services.
The area is not alone. Ambulance services around Maine and across the nation are in financial trouble, according to a state report. Recently, seven towns in Penobscot County learned some of them will face tens of thousands of dollars in new ambulance costs.
In 2020, Caribou increased its 24-hour EMS coverage rates from $11.50 to $100 per capita and fire and EMS rates from $11.50 to $125 per capita, prompting outrage from officials and residents in many nearby towns. Though all communities eventually accepted those rates, some felt that Caribou officials were forcing them to choose between paying a hefty bill and not having coverage.
As of January 1, the rate of $100 per resident for 24-hour EMS coverage will increase to $115 for Limestone, Caswell, Westmanland, Stockholm and the unorganized territory of Madawaska Lake. Caribou will charge $158.13 per capita for fire and EMS coverage in Woodland, New Sweden and Connor Township.
The per capita rate is based on each community’s 2020 U.S. Census population: Limestone, 1,526 people; Caswell, 293; Westmanland, 79; Stockholm, 250; Madawaska Lake, 142; Woodland, 1,217; New Sweden, 577; and Connor Township, 457.
The current yearly rates are: $152,600, Limestone; $29,300, Caswell; $7,900, Westmanland; $25,000, Stockholm; $14,200, Madawaska Lake; $152,125, Woodland; $72,125, New Sweden; and $57,125, Connor Township.
Under the 15-percent increase, new rates will be $175,490, Limestone; $33,695, Caswell; $9,085, Westmanland; $28,750, Stockholm; $16,330, Madawaska Lake; $174,943, Woodland; $82,943, New Sweden; and $65,693, Connor Township.
The new rates will increase Caribou’s annual revenue for local fire and EMS coverage from $510,375 to $586,931.
Caribou Fire Chief Brian Lajoie initially recommended a 10-percent increase but several councilors felt that amount was too low.
“I’d say 25 percent,” said Councilor Dan Bagley. “I’ve got nothing to base that on besides the rise in inflation. We’re effectively slamming Caribou taxpayers for not changing what we needed to change [in the yearly rates].”
Councilor Joan Theriault agreed. Since the council has not raised rates since 2020, expenses have gone up and the rates should reflect that, she said.
No officials from the affected towns were present at the meeting Monday. Lajoie said that he has not yet notified towns of the new rates.
“I think 25 percent seems a bit high but we could increase rates a bit every year rather than having such a big increase,” said City Mayor Courtney Boma.
Councilor Tamara Lovewell suggested upping the proposed 10-percent increase to 15 percent as a way to start incrementally increasing the rates. A majority of councilors agreed with that proposal.
Lajoie agreed to provide a breakdown of the fire and EMS department’s yearly expenses in future years to influence the council’s decision on rate increases.
