VIENNA — Rising payroll costs dominated discussion at the Maries-Osage Ambulance District meeting, prompting concern about staying within the annual budget.

“I do want to point out our payroll in February was over $50,000,” Director Carla Butler said. “If you take that times 12, we’re going to go over budget.”

Butler also noted that the issue underscores the importance of the upcoming sales tax proposal, which voters will see on the ballot this April.

Planning for the upcoming sales tax includes outreach to the community. Butler said three town hall meetings are scheduled for March to inform residents about the proposal.

“We need to schedule three town hall meetings for our tax for the public to come,” she added. Locations are being coordinated, including the courthouse, firehouse, and American Legion halls, to ensure accessibility for Vienna and Freeburg residents.

The meeting also emphasized the pressing need for new ambulances.

“We need two new ambulances desperately,” Butler said. “If you look at the mileages on the rigs, they’re getting up there. All three of them are over 100,000 miles and right now the power load is down on one of them, so we’re waiting for the part because we can’t use it.”

Butler also addressed maintenance and operational issues to keep the ambulances running smoothly.

“We had to get the sink repaired in one of the bathrooms,” she said. “We got the oil changed in Freeburg. We’re going to have to have them do another oil change on another truck as well.”

Call statistics also highlighted the workload for staff.

“Our calls from last month in Vienna were one life threat, 24 urgent, nine dry runs, three transfers,” Butler said. “Last month in Freeburg there were no life threats, nine urgent, seven dry runs, one transfer, for a  total of 17 calls.”

Butler said that the high demand reinforces the need for more ambulances.

“The public wants ambulances,” Butler said. “We’re trying our best.”

Looking back on the prior year, Butler summarized overall performance.

As the district looks ahead, Butler stressed that careful planning and strong community support are essential for maintaining services.

“With the minimum wage and all the cost of equipment, supplies and insurances, audits, two new ambulances that we need desperately,” she said.

Butler added that the proposed tax increase on the spring ballot would address these financial challenges. The tax increase would cover payroll, new ambulances, supplies, and everything needed to keep the service running smoothly.

A report on the proposed tax increase and its impact on the district will be published in the coming weeks.