By Eileen Werbitsky
The Buffalo News
HOLAND, New York — The Holland Emergency Medical Service has begun the transfer of ownership and responsibility from the Town Board to the Fire District, Supervisor Michael Kasprzyk said.
“We are one of the few towns in New York State that still owns our own ambulance service,” he said Wednesday. “This transfer will eventually put the operation in the hands of the people who are closest to the operations, know what needs to be done and who should be in charge.”
The Fire District board of commissioners is made up of five commissioners elected by town residents.
The transfer also paves the way for the rescue squad to eventually start billing for its services to insurance companies and Medicare.
Kasprzyk said the group, which has applied for not-for-profit status, would charge insurance companies to cover its gas, maintenance, vehicular and equipment costs.
The supervisor said this should, over time, allow the squad to get better equipment and provide better service.
There will be no fiscal changes this year, Kasprzyk said, but in January the squad’s operating budget of about $28,000 will be transferred from the town budget to the Fire District budget. Taxpayers will see a net wash between the two on their tax bills.
About 40 volunteers make up the squad, which holds the highest level of certification possible, the supervisor said.
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