Volunteer Fire and Emergency Medical Services - Systems in Crisis: PRESS RELEASE

The ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS of the State of New York
146 State Street, Albany, NY 12207
"Service and Representation for the 932 Town Governments of
New York"

G. Jeffrey Haber, Executive Director - PHONE: (518) 465-7933 - FAX: (518) 465-0724
www.nytowns.org

PRESS RELEASE

The Executive Director of the Association of Towns of the State of New York sees the recruitment and retention of fire and emergency medical service volunteers as vital in working against another in a growing number of property tax burdens facing town citizens across the state.  Keeping property taxes down is a key to the future success of New York State's economy.

Why is the Association concerned about this? At the outset, it is important to note the severe limitations on town real property tax revenue that already exist.  In New York State, the real property tax revenue source is a "pot" of money shared across classes of government that respectively dip into it in varying degrees. This pot of money serves many masters and recently has been eroded by increases in school, county, village and special district demands.

"Volunteers comprise the backbone of emergency services in most of the state's 932 towns", says Haber. "The impact of having to pay for that service would be catastrophic to the real property tax base."

The Association has released a paper entitled: "Volunteer Fire and Emergency Medical Services - Systems in Crisis", stating that there is a looming crisis that will result from the erosion of volunteer manpower.  The impetus for this study emanated from Haber's concern.  It was reinforced by statements of concern from membership as staff raised the issue while traveling the State on lobbying and training missions. Many town officials feel that the state of volunteer emergency services in their respective areas of the State is in crisis and that due to the threat to the volunteer service, a dramatic increase in real property taxes, town government's only locally-generated revenue, is looming. 

Creating further concern is the change in service expectations and demand by citizens.  As the population ages and shifts from urban to suburban to rural, it certainly will have an impact on the number of calls and type of emergency services that the town is expected to deliver.  According to the Firemens' Association of the State of New York (FASNY), about 80 percent of the EMS squads in New York State are connected with a fire department.

Doug McGivney, Supervisor of the Town of Kinderhook in Columbia County, is both a lawyer and an EMT.  He says, "The mandated training and testing leads to the loss of EMTs.  The continuing educational requirements are such that it is easier to remain a lawyer than it is to remain an EMT. Addressing just this one identified issue would go far toward preventing the expected tax increases caused by the lack of volunteers.  Hopefully, the Association's   "Growing Crisis" paper will trigger action to avoid the looming increased tax burden.  Addressing just one of the many issues raised by the paper will alleviate an already serious problem caused by the lack of volunteers to staff our ambulances."

To put this all in perspective, according to the Office of the State Comptroller, in areas served by volunteers, property taxes (all combined) for 2003 were levied at an average rate of roughly 2.25 percent of full value statewide.  The total amount was about $20 billion.  If $7 billion were added, it would result in a 35 percent property tax increase - a $200,000 house in an "average" community would go from $4,500 per year in property taxes to over $6,000 per year!

Haber says: "We are at an important crossroads. So often in government we are not able to anticipate a crisis and head it off, but here we clearly have an opportunity to take actions that will save the taxpayers as much as 7 billion dollars per year."

"New York State spends millions of dollars each year to attract and preserve businesses across the states. Businesses that provide employment for our children and a tax base for municipalities. We all know that it is difficult now to compete with many of the other states for that business. Can you imagine what it would be like if we add four to seven billion dollars to the real property tax bill?"

The Association has identified a five step process for addressing this growing crisis.

1. Identify Questionable Mandates and Regulations
   "I cannot speak for the associations that represent volunteers in this state, but I can tell you that since the Association of Towns began studying this issue I have made it a point to ask volunteers whenever I was with them, what the biggest problem in attracting and retaining volunteers has been. They all say it's the training requirements, especially among the medical services. We all realize the need for training, but we believe that there has to be changes made to make it easier for a volunteer to serve." Jeff Haber
   
   The flow of training and compliance mandates from State and Federal agencies demands increasing time and money. The need for many of these mandates is questionable in the minds of some of our membership. These questionable mandates must be identified and relief from them promoted throughout the state. In some cases, where they prove to be necessary and valid, changes in the way they are structured, delivered and financed may be the only way to alleviate the stress. The advent of "distance learning", other technological advances and the building of new economies of scale may serve these changes well.
2. Join the Effort to Recruit and Retain Volunteers
   There are many efforts and promotional campaigns under way to bolster recruitment and retention. Incentives like health insurance, retirement plans or Length of Service Award Programs (LOSAP), tax credits and free tuition, advertising campaigns, educational programs in the schools and communities and appeals to the public's sense of duty are all part of the plan.
   
   The State Legislature recently announced the formation of a Temporary Task Force on Volunteer Firefighter and Ambulance Recruitment and Retention within the NYS Department of State. Both FASNY and the Association of Towns hope to participate in the ongoing efforts of this Task Force through the representation of members appointed to give local perspective.
3. Identify More Options for Producing Revenue
   Since 1999, the Association has called for the amendment of Section 209 b (4) of the General Municipal Law to permit local governments the option of establishing user fees for emergency, rescue and first aid squads of fire district fire departments and companies. Although Fire districts have their own budgets, they are still part of the town tax levy. Also, many of these departments and companies serve fire protection districts through contractual agreements paid for by town taxes.
4. Share Information on Efficiency and Creative Ideas
   A system as deep and complex as our local fire and EMS system in New York almost certainly holds the potential to act more efficiently. Particularly, as the burden of service provision continues to shift from fire to EMS, it will be important to see that the resources are allocated properly and managed well. Everything from preparation to dispatch to delivery must be reviewed to make sure that the impact on local real property taxes is held in check as much as possible. Economies of scale will have to be explored perhaps challenging traditional arrangements while creating new territories and partnerships. Columbia County has already begun the groundwork for a County EMS agency. A means of sharing information about creative solutions in a timely and thorough fashion should be established.
5. Bring Together the Players
   Another logical step would be a facilitated series of sessions aimed at examining the current situation and promoting good communication and teamwork. There should be an effort to aggregate the collective research and polarize objectives. The following State agencies and organizations have a role in creating or affecting policy related to the above and should be invited to participate: the Office of the State Comptroller, New York State Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, the New York State Department of State (DOS), Office of Fire Prevention and Control, the New York State Office of Emergency Management (SEMO), the Firemen's Association of the State of New York (FASNY), the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC), the Association of Fire districts of the State of New York (AFDSNY), the New York State Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Association (NYSVARA), the Association of Towns of the State of New York (AOTSNY), the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) and the Association of Counties (NYSAC).
   
   Most importantly, members of the New York State Senate and Assembly, particularly those who are involved with local fire or EMS services, must be brought into the discussions. These bodies, along with the Governor, hold the power to make changes and direct resources and should be the immediate focus of our efforts.