|
|
SOMAC Saved:
Colgate, Town and Village Governments Up Funding
It appears as though the Southern Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps (SOMAC) will be able to
come off life support and live on thanks to an infusion of cash from Colgate and local taxpayers.
SOMAC Board of Directors President Mike Ogden Tuesday said he received sufficient commitments
of financial support to cover the $38,000 needed to continue service. The money is needed to cover
the cost of paid medical personnel for 12 hours a day (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) from now through Sept. 1 and
from Dec. 1 through January 2, 2009.
Currently, SOMAC relies on Colgate students who are certified medics to provide that coverage.
With the academic year ending, SOMAC is without those volunteers. Also, the Dec. 1 through Jan. 2
period reflects the winter break at Colgate.
Ogden said the ambulance service needed $38,000 to cover hiring paid professionals to replace the
student volunteers.
The villages of Hamilton and Earlville, the towns of Hamilton and Lebanon and Colgate have verbally
agreed to help cover SOMAC’s extra costs. Amounts were established based upon the number of calls
SOMAC answered in each locale. They include:
+ Village of Hamilton: $11,000
+ Town of Hamilton: $8,000
+ Colgate: $5,800
+ Village of Earlville: $3,300
+ Town of Lebanon: $2,300
Those amounts will cover SOMAC’s immediate financial needs. Ogden said work has begun on creating
a special taxing district within the Town of Hamilton to ensure a secure funding stream beginning in
January of 2010.
Ogden said steps have already been taken to hire paid medical personnel. They will be supported by
volunteer drivers and others.
He said this financial crunch is not limited to SOMAC. Other services around the state are facing
similar fiscal concerns, according to Ogden.
Posted 2008.5.6
Colgate, Town and Village Governments Up Funding
It appears as though the Southern Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps (SOMAC) will be able to
come off life support and live on thanks to an infusion of cash from Colgate and local taxpayers.
SOMAC Board of Directors President Mike Ogden Tuesday said he received sufficient commitments
of financial support to cover the $38,000 needed to continue service. The money is needed to cover
the cost of paid medical personnel for 12 hours a day (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) from now through Sept. 1 and
from Dec. 1 through January 2, 2009.
Currently, SOMAC relies on Colgate students who are certified medics to provide that coverage.
With the academic year ending, SOMAC is without those volunteers. Also, the Dec. 1 through Jan. 2
period reflects the winter break at Colgate.
Ogden said the ambulance service needed $38,000 to cover hiring paid professionals to replace the
student volunteers.
The villages of Hamilton and Earlville, the towns of Hamilton and Lebanon and Colgate have verbally
agreed to help cover SOMAC’s extra costs. Amounts were established based upon the number of calls
SOMAC answered in each locale. They include:
+ Village of Hamilton: $11,000
+ Town of Hamilton: $8,000
+ Colgate: $5,800
+ Village of Earlville: $3,300
+ Town of Lebanon: $2,300
Those amounts will cover SOMAC’s immediate financial needs. Ogden said work has begun on creating
a special taxing district within the Town of Hamilton to ensure a secure funding stream beginning in
January of 2010.
Ogden said steps have already been taken to hire paid medical personnel. They will be supported by
volunteer drivers and others.
He said this financial crunch is not limited to SOMAC. Other services around the state are facing
similar fiscal concerns, according to Ogden.
Posted 2008.5.6