Vote YES on December 14

Vote NO on Dec 14

Vote NO on Dec 14

Quoted from gadfly

REMS claims there will be no free rides. They insist that the tax proceeds would go solely to capital investments such as the five new
ambulances they intend to purchase. They state continue to bill insurance companies/Medicaid/Medicare to cover salary, benefits, etc.,
although I don't see how that will continue to cover rapidly rising costs of those payables.
They also state that they will not pursue billing/collection efforts with users who are uninsured or unable to pay. So basically, by their
presentation, the tax will pay for their equipment, supplies, ambulances and anyone who can't or won't pay.

Here's another item to think about...

I have always said that the biggest reason the FDs are supporting REMS tax is because they don't want REMS moving in with them....sharing very
expensive facilities...and millions of dollars in annual tax revenue.

I attended one of the REMS gatherings at the Curry Rd/ firehouse last week. Tony Jasenski delivered a lengthy dissertation about the history of
REMS...much like the irrelevant walk down memory lane he called a "presentation" the night of Mohawk's real presentation. Only this time he
mentioned something else...that REMS and other emt squads USED to share resources with the FDs, but they began to eat up more and more of
their budgets and couldn't afford them anymore.

This confirms two things I have always contended.

First, the firefighters are going all out to support a tax for REMS because they don't want REMS to end up moving in with them.

Second, the cost of that service will rise steadily and dramatically...and those increases would be reflected in a rising tax that REMS claims will
never go up. If the FDs could no longer afford to finance REMS then...imagine what would happen with that tax now.

MB would definitely have a vote YES sign on her lawn.  Doesn't have one though because too few people would see it in the boonies.

How do we pay for general volunteer fire companies, but with tax dollars, right? I talked with a few of our good town fire company volunteers and they are supportive too.

REMS can be monitored on their finances and a good caregiver for all us.  I remember when REMS used to send the donation request in the mail.  The last one I got was for about $75.00.  So does it matter to me if it comes out of my direct pocket or funnels through town hall, NO!  At least this way everyone is paying the same fair share, not some of us donating the requested amount and others giving nothing when they can afford to give at least $75.00.

I gotta go with DVR on this one.

Since the tax would be based on assessed property value, everyone will not be paying the same...especialy owners of multiple properties.
Donations are voluntary...taxes are not.

Quoted from huskyhowls

REMS can be monitored on their finances and a good caregiver for all us.  I remember when REMS used to send the donation request in the mail.  The last one I got was for about $75.00.  So does it matter to me if it comes out of my direct pocket or funnels through town hall, NO!  At least this way everyone is paying the same fair share, not some of us donating the requested amount and others giving nothing when they can afford to give at least $75.00.

I gotta go with DVR on this one.

           If it funnels through Town Hall, you have no choice.  If it comes out of your pocket, you have a choice.  So are you saying that you support REMS, but not an ambulance taxing district?  Almost everyone has health insurance they pay dearly for, Why would you pay twice for the same service??  Why are you concerned with everyone paying their fair share?  You should only pay if you need the service, not because it is fair for you to pay when others don't.  Please pay to have my driveway plowed because I don't want to!  Why would you settle for a lesser BLS provider for a cost when you can get ALS for no cost?  This mind set is troubling, but at least you are correct, you are right in step with DVR.

Well was it ever proposed to going back to people making donations to support it?  Why can't it go back to being supported in this way.  Why does it have to be via taxing district?  

I support REMS. Primarily because it's roots are in Rotterdam. I'm one of those folks that still take pride in Rotterdam despite who sits in town hall.   I like my community and want to keep REMS around.

I wish the vote were more available to residents.  This could have been done in a more fair way.  The assessor's/receiver of taxes offices have a database with all property owners.  A fact finding type tally could have been mailed to all property owners and returned either in person or mail by a certain date without all this fan fair of an unfair voting system.

We could have really seen what the general populous wanted that way. I don't think this upcoming process is fair.

We gotta start another thread if we want to talk about fair assessments Gadfly.  I just moved from the suburban part of town and my assessment was $30,000 more than the exact same house a street over.  Same exact size, same everything.  No reason for the difference.  Assessments are not fair in Rotterdam either.  I didn't challenge it because I knew I was moving to rural Rotterdam and frankly didn't think I was over-assessed.  I did think the house on the other street had a very questionnable assessment.  I guess I didn't know anybody in town hall that could adjust it for me.  Or maybe I wouldn't ever ask!

Bottom line, I think we need to feel the residents pulse for whether or not they want a local ambulance squad and how they want it funded.  I don't think this upcoming vote is how we find out that answer because I don't think enough of the folks eligible to vote really understand the issue.

Why can't we support it through donation?  What happened to that method of support?

Quoted from huskyhowls

Well was it ever proposed to going back to people making donations to support it?  Why can't it go back to being supported in this way.  Why does it have to be via taxing district?  

I support REMS. Primarily because it's roots are in Rotterdam. I'm one of those folks that still take pride in Rotterdam despite who sits in town hall.   I like my community and want to keep REMS around.

I wish the vote were more available to residents.  This could have been done in a more fair way.  The assessor's/receiver of taxes offices have a database with all property owners.  A fact finding type tally could have been mailed to all property owners and returned either in person or mail by a certain date without all this fan fair of an unfair voting system.

We could have really seen what the general populous wanted that way. I don't think this upcoming process is fair.

As I understand this, (and Gadfly could/should correct me if I'm wrong), we are essentially voting for or against an ambulance district.  The letter from the Town highlighted this.  So if the ambulance district vote passes, the service I would assume would have to go to bid as required by NYS Municipal Law.  Then REMS likely would be underbid by MAS and REMS would be out.  If the ambulance district is voted down, then MAS would be the likely provider.  I say this because the monies for REMS have been removed from the Town budget for next fiscal year, and REMS cannot survive without the supplemental funding.  To maintain REMS via donation is illogical based on the continued debt they carry, and the fact that all of their ambulances are allegedly in need of replacement.  You would have to raise upwards of $200,000 dollars and sustain that year after year, which I believe to be unlikely.  I see the problem as REMS needing far to much money right now just to be on the same playing field as MAS when the bid solicitations start, regardless of the vote outcome.

When the EMS was part of the FD there used to be fund drives that would cover every house in the fire district and if nobody was home they were left an envelope to mail in. Medical equipment, ambulances, training, and state mandated procedures like the ability to communicate with the hospitals while in transit all cost money. Being a paid ambulance service requires having a form of malpractice insurance in case of a mishap to a patient and we all know what that costs. When the EMS was operating under the supervision of the FD the EMT crews were all volunteer squads and because of the good samaritan law couldn't be sued so no need for special insurance. There are still too many unanswered questions about the fiscal health of REMS to even have a vote on the issue and it should be put off until all questions are satisfied.

Quoted from Shadow

When the EMS was part of the FD there used to be fund drives that would cover every house in the fire district and if nobody was home they were left an envelope to mail in. Medical equipment, ambulances, training, and state mandated procedures like the ability to communicate with the hospitals while in transit all cost money. Being a paid ambulance service requires having a form of malpractice insurance in case of a mishap to a patient and we all know what that costs. When the EMS was operating under the supervision of the FD the EMT crews were all volunteer squads and because of the good samaritan law couldn't be sued so no need for special insurance. There are still too many unanswered questions about the fiscal health of REMS to even have a vote on the issue and it should be put off until all questions are satisfied.

I would agree with SHADOW on the vote out of fairness.  This continues to get uglier since the Town has indicated it was illegal for REMS to have kept the billed Paramedics monies.  Whether the ambulance district vote passes or not is almost irrelevant at this point.  Unfortunately REMS is in DEEP right now.

Based on the letter just posted from Frank DelGallo and a few of these recent posts by those of you who are really knowing more of the facts, I don't think we are ready for a vote on this new taxing district.  

There's just too much murkiness and unanswered questions.

I like the idea of keeping REMS, but as a town, I don't think we should be voting on it yet.  If we want it, we have to fund it somehow.

I thank all of you who have responded to educate me as a resident and voter.