New Berlin, NY (WBNG Binghamton) The Town of New Berlin is privatizing its EMS Service, but how residents will pay for their EMS is up in the air.
Neighbors crowded the Town Hall to voice questions and concerns about funding a new service that is already being formed.
Currently the town provides EMS services under an agreement with the Village of New Berlin and the Town of Columbus.
The town says the goal of this agreement was to eventually create a completely new, not-for-profit ambulance service.
Voters will decide on January 24th whether to form an ambulance district for the entire town.
"The district is being formed just to make life simpler so if you've got two or three ambulance services in a town, you can pay out of one pot of money," said Ross Iannello, New Berlin Town Supervisor.
The plan is not without controversy.
Current EMS workers say a not-for-profit would not pay into state retirement benefits.
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This as the Village of New Berlin has opted out of the not-for-profit agreement.
South New Berlin will still operate its own ambulance service, although residents there would have to fund the new not-for-profit if the fire district is formed.
The Town of Columbus also held a meeting this evening to discuss the upcoming referendum.
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