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SOMAC Needs Additional
Funding Or Could Close
The Southern Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps
(SOMAC) is facing a financial crisis, and could wind up
having to take its ambulances out of service unless it gets
increased financial allocations.
Mike Ogden of the SOMAC Board of Directors
appeared at Tuesday's public hearing on the Village of
Hamilton budget to ask the board of trustees to further
increase its allocation in the 2008/2009 budget. The
village had already increased SOMAC funding from
$5,000 to $8,000. Ogden was seeking about $11,000
more on top of that.
The board did not increase SOMAC's budget allocation,
but did decide the village would find a way to get more
money to the organization that last year answered 522
calls.
It was made clear at the board meeting that while the
village would help SOMAC, it also expected the
organization to take a closer look at its own budget.
"We want to be absolutely sure that the SOMAC board
looks at its budget as carefully as we looked at ours," said
Mayor Sue McVaugh.
SOMAC receives funding from the village, the Town of
Hamilton, the Town of Lebanon and Colgate University.
In asking the village for more money, Ogden explained
that the end of the Colgate academic year causes
problems for SOMAC. Many of the corps' volunteers
trained in advanced life saving techniques are students,
and they will be graduating or leaving for the summer.
"Without the students, we would be out of existence,"
said trustee Margaret Miller, who also serves on the
SOMAC board and is an active volunteer.
As SOMAC's volunteers are already strapped, Ogden said
the corps has to hired paid staff during the summer and
again during the winter. Paid professionals at this level
earn about $17 per hour, and SOMAC would need
someone 12 hours per day, seven days per week.
Ogden said SOMAC is asking the Town of Hamilton to
help mitigate the current financial crisis. He said SOMAC
is also working with the town to create a special taxing
district that would fully fund SOMAC. However, the
earliest that could be done is early 2010.
SOMAC does no public fund raising.
"We can't not help them," said trustee Carl Albrecht.
"We have to keep the ambulance on the street."
It was decided to examine the village contingency fund as
a possible source for increased funding for SOMAC.
Funding Or Could Close
The Southern Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps
(SOMAC) is facing a financial crisis, and could wind up
having to take its ambulances out of service unless it gets
increased financial allocations.
Mike Ogden of the SOMAC Board of Directors
appeared at Tuesday's public hearing on the Village of
Hamilton budget to ask the board of trustees to further
increase its allocation in the 2008/2009 budget. The
village had already increased SOMAC funding from
$5,000 to $8,000. Ogden was seeking about $11,000
more on top of that.
The board did not increase SOMAC's budget allocation,
but did decide the village would find a way to get more
money to the organization that last year answered 522
calls.
It was made clear at the board meeting that while the
village would help SOMAC, it also expected the
organization to take a closer look at its own budget.
"We want to be absolutely sure that the SOMAC board
looks at its budget as carefully as we looked at ours," said
Mayor Sue McVaugh.
SOMAC receives funding from the village, the Town of
Hamilton, the Town of Lebanon and Colgate University.
In asking the village for more money, Ogden explained
that the end of the Colgate academic year causes
problems for SOMAC. Many of the corps' volunteers
trained in advanced life saving techniques are students,
and they will be graduating or leaving for the summer.
"Without the students, we would be out of existence,"
said trustee Margaret Miller, who also serves on the
SOMAC board and is an active volunteer.
As SOMAC's volunteers are already strapped, Ogden said
the corps has to hired paid staff during the summer and
again during the winter. Paid professionals at this level
earn about $17 per hour, and SOMAC would need
someone 12 hours per day, seven days per week.
Ogden said SOMAC is asking the Town of Hamilton to
help mitigate the current financial crisis. He said SOMAC
is also working with the town to create a special taxing
district that would fully fund SOMAC. However, the
earliest that could be done is early 2010.
SOMAC does no public fund raising.
"We can't not help them," said trustee Carl Albrecht.
"We have to keep the ambulance on the street."
It was decided to examine the village contingency fund as
a possible source for increased funding for SOMAC.
