Madison Common Council approved the 2022 city budget Thursday night, including increased spending to improve ambulance services in the southeast portion of the city.
The plan is to hire ten new paramedic positions in the fire department to staff an ambulance at Station 14 in order to decrease response times.
“Madison’s southeast side has been advocating for an ambulance at Station 14 for many years,” Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said.
The neighborhoods near Station 14 were previously dependent on ambulances from fire stations at Cottage Grove Road, Badger Road and Lien Road for emergency response. This dependence created a domino effect leaving some areas uncovered, explained Rhodes-Conway. “The area has not had adequate ambulance and emergency transport service,” said District 16 Alder Jael Currie.