Quoted from TippyCanoe

black hole called the general fund

gotcha.........

Ambulance service should not have to cost the taxpayers a dime when there is a stable, well respected private service readily available.The taxpayers in rotterdam are already over burdened. They can't take anymore!!!

Quoted Text

Time for vote — and ‘yes’ vote — on REMS

    Enough talk. It is time to act. It is time for the taxpayers of Rotterdam to vote yes or no to create an ambulance taxing district for REMS (Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services). As a public safety dispatcher for the town of Rotterdam for the past 25 years, a former White Eagle Ambulance member for 14 years and a former board member of REMS, the emergency service system in Rotterdam has been part of my life since 1981.
    Funding has always been a struggle for the ambulance service in Rotterdam, going back to when it was funded solely by donations. Then insurance reimbursement came along in the early 1990s. The funding struggle continues for REMS.
    There are three emergency services in Rotterdam — police, fire and EMS (emergency medical services). The police and fire districts, as well as the advanced life support (paramedics) part of EMS is fully funded by the taxpayers of Rotterdam. REMS provides the basic life support part of the EMS system and is in need of partial secured funding by the taxpayers through the creation of an ambulance taxing district.
    In March 2003, then-Town Supervisor John Paolino held neighborhood meetings on this very issue. The meeting I attended and spoke in favor of the taxing district was at the Carman Fire Department. It was clear to me at the end of that meeting that the people in attendance were in favor of funding REMS and supported a vote on a taxing district. In 2007 REMS conducted a survey in conjunction with its fund drive asking taxpayers if they would support an ambulance flat tax of $25 per household. The response was 9-1 in favor.
    Mohawk Ambulance has been and continues to be a partner in EMS with REMS. They have for decades provided mutual aid to Rotterdam. There is absolutely no need for Mohawk to become the primary emergency service provider in Rotterdam. The leadership and staff of REMS are resilient, highly trained and committed to serving our community.
    In my opinion, the tax district is a non-issue. I realize and respect the fact that no one wants another tax, but this issue is upward of 10 years and running from one administration to another. The EMS wheel continues to spin in Rotterdam. It is time for the wheel to stop and for a vote to be taken by the taxpayers of Rotterdam.

    JEFF SEELEY
    Rotterdam

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00703&AppName=1

Here we go again...

I was also present at that same meeting at the Carmen Fire Dept. referenced. Then, as now, the room full of "supporters" are always the
interested parties. Pat Green, the squad spokesperson at the time, told us that it would be a "mere" $17 per household for, and I quote,
"for something like this", as she waved her arms across the air...indicating that they could have their own clubhouse just like the one in
which that meeting took place.

Now it's $25 per household...and they haven't even created the tax district yet.

The cost will go a lot higher after the tax district is created.

how is that ALS agreement for REMS working out?  

will that allow them enough funding?

Quoted from littlesal

how is that ALS agreement for REMS working out?  

will that allow them enough funding?

Don't matter littlesal! There should be NO taxpayer funding for REMS or another ambulance service. It is now and will be tooooo costly for the already overburdened taxpayer.

If it is put up for a vote,  I predict that a majority of property owners in Rotterdam will vote YES for REMS
and a tax district.  
Most people in town know that the value of human life is worth more than 10cents per thousand and that
REMS is a great provider of service.

There are a lot of people living on a fixed income that may disagree with you.

Quoted from Shadow

There are a lot of people living on a fixed income that may disagree with you.

From what I hear, senior citizens are solidly in favor of REMS and the tax district.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

If it is put up for a vote,  I predict that a majority of property owners in Rotterdam will vote YES for REMS
and a tax district.  
Most people in town know that the value of human life is worth more than 10cents per thousand and that
REMS is a great provider of service.

Haven't you gotten the memo yet - it's up to 20 or 25c now

The cost will go higher as soon as the tax district is formed because REMS needs all new equipment and if my memory is correct Berkshire Ambulance spent $800,000 to outfit 2 ambulances.

Quoted from 147

Haven't you gotten the memo yet - it's up to 20 or 25c now

I think the only memo Ron received was the one not appointing him
to Deputy town clerk.

Quoted from marymagdelene1234

I think the only memo Ron received was the one not appointing him
to Deputy town clerk.

What happened with that anyway?   Will it be on the agenda for the next TB meeting or is he just going to work in the Clerk's office without the public being notified?

Quoted from clubhouse

What happened with that anyway?   Will it be on the agenda for the next TB meeting or is he just going to work in the Clerk's office without the public being notified?

It will not be on the agenda for the next town meeting or any other...there will be no more Deputy Clerks appointed, so public
notice won't be necessary.