NEWS
RVES Ambulance Corps Closing in October
The membership of RVES regretfully announces after months of hard work and discussion with Town and Village officials that RVES will cease operations on 31 October 2016 at 23.59 after 38 years of service to the community due to financial reasons.
The Town worked diligently to find funds to sustain the ambulance service. Sadly the $12,800 is less than one half of what is needed when other fund raising and insurance reimbursements are added in.
Some of the larger items in our budget include: Worker's Compensation Insurance: $15,000, mortgage $14,000, building, vehicle and malpractice insurance $7,000. Added on to those costs are: utilities, diesel fuel, medical supplies, uniforms, equipment plus a thirteen year old ambulance and you can see how expensive running an ambulance service is. In a small town losing population survival without without government help and support is not possible.
The membership felt it would be irresponsible to accept tax dollars and still have to close our doors in a few months time due to the help being "too little, too late".
At this point in time the membership, while still committed and dedicated to helping people in need, see no route forward without a substantial commitment of public funds.
The Town worked diligently to find funds to sustain the ambulance service. Sadly the $12,800 is less than one half of what is needed when other fund raising and insurance reimbursements are added in.
Some of the larger items in our budget include: Worker's Compensation Insurance: $15,000, mortgage $14,000, building, vehicle and malpractice insurance $7,000. Added on to those costs are: utilities, diesel fuel, medical supplies, uniforms, equipment plus a thirteen year old ambulance and you can see how expensive running an ambulance service is. In a small town losing population survival without without government help and support is not possible.
The membership felt it would be irresponsible to accept tax dollars and still have to close our doors in a few months time due to the help being "too little, too late".
At this point in time the membership, while still committed and dedicated to helping people in need, see no route forward without a substantial commitment of public funds.
The Schoharie News will follow up on this story as it develops.