Voters approve Montmorency Township fire millage, tri-township ambulance funding
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MONTMORENCY COUNTY – Voters in Montmorency, Hillman and Rust townships on Tuesday approved millage proposals supporting local fire and ambulance services, including a coordinated plan that will help fund new ambulances for the Hillman Ambulance Service.
In Montmorency Township, residents authorized a 0.50-mill increase for four years, from 2026 through 2029, to operate and equip fire department services. The millage is expected to raise an estimated $58,053 in its first year.
Voters in all three townships also approved matching ambulance purchases millages of up to 0.25 mills for eight years, from 2026 through 2033. The funds will help the Hillman Fire Board purchase new ambulances for the Hillman Ambulance Service.
Montmorency Township's ambulance millage is projected to generate $29,027 in its first year. Hillman Township's is estimated at $25,542, and Rust Township's at $10,709. Because identical proposals passed in all three townships, the millages will take effect. Combined, they are expected to raise about $65,278 in the first year.
The measures address sharply rising costs for emergency vehicles, Kellie Lis, EMS captain for the Hillman Fire Department told The News last month.
"There has been a huge increase in the cost of new ambulances," Lis said. "I was involved in the purchase of a new one in 2016. At that time it cost approximately $164,000. We ordered a new one last year and the total came to approximately $325,000 and has a much longer wait."
She said the 2016 ambulance had about an 18-month turnaround. The unit now on order is not expected until August 2028 after an original projected delivery of October 2029. The dealership told the department that other agencies canceled orders because of funding shortfalls, which shortened the wait, Lis said.
"The Hillman Fire Board has historically set aside $20,000-$25,000 in our new ambulance fund to put toward the purchase of a new ambulance every 5 years," she said. "With the rise in cost we would need to put $50,000-$60,000 aside from our budget which is not possible."