Decision is subject to permissive referendum

By Hayleigh Gowans

Staff Writer

The East Syracuse Village Board recently voted in favor of joining the DeWitt Fire District, a decision that will take effect in 2018.

In the past, the village of East Syracuse had contracted directly with East Area Volunteer Emergency Services (EAVES) for ambulance services. In 2010, the town of DeWitt created a new ambulance district, which included the village of East Syracuse, but the village board at the time opted out of joining.

At the Nov. 7 meeting of the board, a public hearing on the resolution that would allow the village to consolidate the ambulance district with the DeWitt ambulance district was held.

EAVES Director Vincent Stevenson said that currently, East Syracuse contributes $8,000 to EAVES operating costs each year during their budget process. A review into the number of calls made to the village and the high number of Medicaid and Medicare recipients, as well as uninsured people, showed a loss of about $182,000 for EAVES.

“We’re asking East Syracuse to join the DeWitt district so we don’t continue to lose money,” said Stevenson. The benefits of East Syracuse residents paying the same rate as DeWitt residents for ambulance services are that full-time residents of East Syracuse will not be responsible for any portion of an ambulance bill from EAVES above when their insurance covers, said Stevenson.

Under this change, the taxing authority would be converted from East Syracuse to DeWitt, and DeWitt would perform the contract negotiations. Currently, town residents pay 24 cents per $1,000 assessed value, and village residents would pay the same as town residents. The ambulance district would be budgeted through DeWitt and village residents would pay for it when they pay their town taxes.

East Syracuse Mayor Robert Tackman said he believes it is a smart idea to spread the costs of ambulance services through the whole district rather than through two separate districts, especially with the rising costs of health services, and to keep a good relationship between EAVES and the East Syracuse Fire Department.

Town residents are not affected by this change, said DeWitt Town Supervisor Ed Michalenko, and he believes this consolidation to be a good move. “Because it [ambulance district] is a special district, the town has committed to the tax cap, which means there won’t be any unexpected changes for anyone,” said Michalenko. “I think it’s a fair value for the taxpayers.”

Although the resolution was unanimously passed by the East Syracuse Village Board Nov. 7, it is subject to permissive referendum, which means residents can petition it if they gain enough signatures in a matter of 30 days of its passing.

To view the resolution, contact the village clerk at 437-3541.