In either case, it appears that as long as the rotterdamians keep on top of the legalities, rems is and will be S.O.L. no matter how this vote turns out. Although it is quite obvious that this vote shouldn't even be taking place. They (rems) should have left things as they were IF they were smart.
Although I hear that the taxing district is losing ground any way. Especially from some rotterdam business folks. They do not want another tax.
Now to add to the mix.........rumor has it that GP and FS represent rems....correct? And GP is supposedly a CPA......correct? Sowho has the most to gain here? And who has the expertise to 'move' numbers around?..... No finger pointing here....just sayin' and just askin'.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
You can't designate a provider in the referendum. But the Town Board has unanimously agreed that if the tax district passes then it will be awarded to REMS. And it is my understanding that it doesn't have to be sent out to bid.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Help me make sense of this. The way I'm understanding this is - the property owners will be getting taxed to fund a not-for-profit ambulance company(REMS). If the property owner gets sick and needs the REMS to transport him/her to the hospital, and if said property owner has the financial means, he/she in addition to the ambulance district tax will also get billed for the ride. On the other hand, if a non-property owner uses REMS and said non-property owner doesn't have the financial mean to pay, the property owner that pays the ambulance tax, will also be footing the bill for the services that go unpaid. Who decides whether a patient has the means to pay for the service? If REMS soft bills and doesn't send to collections, how and who determines the indigent?
My interpretation is that the ambulance tax district was for capital expenses, ie ambulance replacement, fuel, building maintenance etc. The billing is allegedly for salary and benefits. If an individual needs ambulance transport, their financial obligation is independent of the district tax. All property owners pay their assessed value share of the tax whether you use the services or not. Residents with health care have ambulance transport as part of their policy. By NYS insurance law, the ambulance provider has to accept the rate the insurance provider will reimburse, end of story. This is also true for Medicare, I believe there is a separate schedule for payment under this plan. For those who have no insurance (then ambulance transport is the least of their concerns), they will have to work out a payment schedule. For these individuals, how you determine who can pay and who can't is a good question. No idea what happens in this case, or how money owed is collected.
I'm not sure that just awarding the contract [tax district] to just one provider without a bid is going to pass legal muster.
Shadow I agree whole heartedly. I think that voids the municipal contract requirements when soliciting a service. It has to be a contract, which implies it has to be bid. MAS is offering the Town money, their bid for sevices will be a negative bid. By offering money, it creates a zero dollar tax because no monies need to be raised by the ambulance district (should it pass)!
My interpretation is that the ambulance tax district was for capital expenses, ie ambulance replacement, fuel, building maintenance etc. The billing is allegedly for salary and benefits. If an individual needs ambulance transport, their financial obligation is independent of the district tax. All property owners pay their assessed value share of the tax whether you use the services or not. Residents with health care have ambulance transport as part of their policy. By NYS insurance law, the ambulance provider has to accept the rate the insurance provider will reimburse, end of story. This is also true for Medicare, I believe there is a separate schedule for payment under this plan. For those who have no insurance (then ambulance transport is the least of their concerns), they will have to work out a payment schedule. For these individuals, how you determine who can pay and who can't is a good question. No idea what happens in this case, or how money owed is collected.
That is correct Avon, with the exception of the billing is for salary and currently NO one has benefits--not even full time employees.
In either case, it appears that as long as the rotterdamians keep on top of the legalities, rems is and will be S.O.L. no matter how this vote turns out. Although it is quite obvious that this vote shouldn't even be taking place. They (rems) should have left things as they were IF they were smart.
Although I hear that the taxing district is losing ground any way. Especially from some rotterdam business folks. They do not want another tax.
Now to add to the mix.........rumor has it that GP and FS represent rems....correct? And GP is supposedly a CPA......correct? Sowho has the most to gain here? And who has the expertise to 'move' numbers around?..... No finger pointing here....just sayin' and just askin'.
No one can move numbers around. The taxing district takes care of ambulances and equipment only. The oversight is with the State Comptroller as well as the town comptroller along with a board of directors that will be elected by the TAXPAYERS.
Interesting rumor. Are there any names associated? I haven't heard of any from either major party who are on record as being against the creation of the tax district. The only ones who I heard speak against creating a tax district were the NNTP candidates in 2009. McGarry apparently continues to oppose the tax district based on his Letters to the Editor. Where are Mertz and O'Connor today?
Hey, I’m just a regular guy again and fully intend to stay that way. My “political career” ended on Election Day, November 3, 2009. I don’t expect to have a desire for a “comeback” either. It’s someone else’s turn.
I’ve been offering few opinions publicly since (and rarely on this forum). I choose to stay informed and do my “talking” by pulling the appropriate levers on election day. That said, my opinion on the proposed tax district hasn’t changed – I’m against it. (I believe I was among the first to ever express that opinion publicly, by the way. In fact, I recently reiterated my position “publicly” on my personal blog a few weeks ago. http://rotterdamny.blogspot.com/2010/11/call-ambulance.html That’s the best place to ever find out what’s on my mind. I still respond to my email too. Or look down that groundhog hole, I’m in there too! ROTFLMAO still)
You really have kept a low profile but I knew you were on top of the issues. Question did the town ever fix the drainage coming out of Netherlands Village?
Can my profile get any lower? I mean, I've managed to keep my beak shut for over a year. But I never ever stopped paying attention.
You may be 'silent', but your ideology is unshaken. People who 'really' know you, have a pretty good idea on what your take is on issues! People respect your decisions, but there are tons of people who wish you would take another run out of the gate again.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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