funding THE MHAJFD
Our eight municipalities we serve formed together under the Fire Protection and Rescue Service Agreement in 1979 to create the now named Mount Horeb Area Joint Fire Department. After final approval of each annual Department budget, the budgeted sum is raised by each of the municipalities upon the equalized valuation of the properties within the area served by the Department.
For 2024 a desperately needed new funding source is available to address public safety needs across the state. This new funding was signed into law in June of 2023 through Wisconsin Act 12.
Our Fire and EMS members include 60 volunteers and 8 full time staff members who responded to 1,538 emergencies in 2022; 927 emergencies in the first half of 2023. In addition to responding to calls, we perform fire safety inspections and reviews of businesses, teach Fire and EMS public education, attend training on ever changing skills, along with many additional assignments.
The increasing demands for our service have overwhelmed current staffing numbers to the point that we cannot guarantee a response to emergencies. We need more firefighters and more EMTs. We train to be ready to step up to help, but now we need to ask for help from our municipalities. Thankfully, there is way forward; obtaining our 2024 Budget increase from the new Act 12 funding. See the MHAJFD 2024 Operating Budget Request below. This document covers all changed categories, both additions and subtractions. All other budget categories remain unchanged for 2024. The 2024 MHAJFD Operating Budget was approved by our eight municipalities on September 27, 2023.