Municipalities throughout Lancaster County are struggling with how to fund emergency services. The Sunday News story, “Sounding the Alarm,” highlights local issues surrounding fire company mergers and proposed fire taxes.
http://lancasteronline.com/section/local/tag_fire%20tax_1-fire%20tax.html
In the Octorara region, the Christiana Ambulance Association has also sounded a financial warning bell.
Representatives from the Christiana Ambulance Association, which handled more than 1,000 calls in southeastern Lancaster County last year, are asking that local municipalities consider imposing a tax to fund the emergency medical service.
Hank Oleyniczak, Jack Mariano and Herb Hogg told Sadsbury Township supervisors July 5 rising costs, sinking donations, and a lack of volunteer EMT drivers are leading the board to think the association could run out of money in four or five years.
“We’d like to still be here to serve,” said Hogg. “If we close there will be an ambulance, but I have no idea where it’s coming from. We cover a huge area. Less people are supporting the ambulance all the time, which isn’t entirely fair.“
The association has 20 full and part-time paid employees, and a loyal core of six active volunteers which keep an ambulance available 24 hours, seven days a week. The association’s ambulance was the first on the scene at the Nickel Mine school shooting and maintains a visible presence along the busy Route 41 corridor.
Not having more volunteers is a budget buster, according to Oleyniczak.
“The EMT course is 200 hours,“ said Oleyniczak. “It’s hard to get a volunteer to put in 200 hours of training and work for free.”
Mariano said the service, along with other organizations, has lost volunteers and he would like to encourage young people to volunteer and use the service as a stepping stone to a good job.
“The me generation has come of age and isn’t interested in helping out the community,” agreed Supervisor Eugene Lammey.
Oleyniczak said the association receives no government funding and local state representatives said none would be forthcoming. The association receives money for ambulance runs, and from membership donations. However, memberships have dropped from 1,408 in 2008 to the current figure of 1,235.
According to Hogg, the association placed a new ambulance in use three weeks ago since the old one had 180,000 miles, and the community supported this with $42,000 in donations during last year‘s ambulance drive. The association has a building which it owns free and clear at 55 Pine Creek Drive, and shares space with the Lancaster EMS.
“Our ambulance association has up to now held its own, and we have a very strong board” Hogg said.
Mariano also told supervisors the association appreciates the help it receives from the township road crew in keeping its driveway plowed during snow storms.
Supervisors made no commitment about imposing an EMS tax.
“This gives us some time to look at it and come up with some help,” said Lammey.
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