CARIBOU, Maine — Towns surrounding Caribou will continue to receive fire and ambulance coverage, for a price, next year.
On Dec. 13, Caribou City Council voted to accept fire contracts from three towns and ambulance contracts from seven surrounding communities.
According to City Manager Austin Bleess, the town bases the prices for ambulance coverage on a per capita basis, while estimating fire coverage fees on population and property valuation. As a result, the prices for fire coverage are significantly higher than ambulance services.
Ambulance prices will remain unchanged in 2017, but the council set the charge for fire coverage to increase by 3 percent next year.
Woodland agreed to pay an annual rate of $13,950 for their ambulance contract and $62,411 for the fire contract. New Sweden is paying $6,923 for ambulance coverage and $34,421 for their fire contract. In 2017, Connor will pay $5,244 for Caribou’s ambulance service and $28,194 for fire protection.
Four surrounding communities deciding to strictly use the city’s ambulance service. For this contract, Westmanland pays an annual rate of $713, Stockholm pays $2,909, Perham pays $4,439, and Madawaska Lake pays $1,265.
Since the mentioned communities run with a town form of government, a majority vote of local residents during annual town meetings determines whether to accept or decline these contracts.
