Adding emergency medical services to the Fire Department would entail significant costs the first two years for ambulances, full-time staffing and station modifications, but costs would level out by the third year, according to Fire Chief Nick Hamel.
The combined model of fire and emergency medical services already being adopted by other communities due to staffing shortages in both fields requires “a change in mindset,” Hamel told the Town Council at the April 8 meeting.
People should look at a town ambulance service as community focused rather than contract focused, said Hamel, citing benefits such as long-term stability, improved community engagement, and better means of keeping town residents safe around the clock.
Paid firefighter-emergency medical technicians and firefighter- paramedics would be ready to respond immediately, he said, instead of residents needing medical assistance having to wait for an ambulance from out of town to arrive.
The proposed cost of emergency services for 2026 includes a one-time expenditure of $407,000 to buy a used ambulance and equipment, as well as expenses for new hires and licensing fees, according to Hamel’s presentation at the meeting.
Another $250,000 would be allocated for a new ambulance and station modifications; and $310,241 for rescue services now contracted with York Ambulance, a slight fee increase from last year but one that has nearly tripled from $110,000 since 2023.
The York Ambulance contract would expire on June 30, 2026, when cross-trained fire and medical personnel would assume emergency ambulance service, Hamel said.
The Fire Department’s operating budget of $1.26 million, which includes the proposed ambulance service, is part of the $11.3 million municipal spending package for 2026 that will go before South Berwick voters at annual Town Meeting May 20. See related story here.
Hamel made it clear that ambulance service, like other public safety services, will always have a price tag.
The town would bill users for ambulance service just as York Ambulance does now, defraying some of the cost, he said, but it would never break even.
“Fire, police, highway – these things are not expected to make a profit… They are there to keep people safe,” he said.
“We are not in the business of making money,” added Town Manager Tim Pellerin. “We’re in the business of providing services.”
Councilor John James expressed strong support for the plan, saying that though emergency services could be pushed off another year, it still will need to happen soon and will be more expensive over time.
“We don’t want to end up where we ended up with the Town Hall, where we had to do so much work because for so many years we passed off doing the work,” said James.” We want to be fiscally responsible, but we don’t want to be short-sighted.”
James urged residents to “tell your friends, neighbors and everybody that’s going to show up to our Town Meeting in May that a lot of thought went into this budget.”
Voting on the town budget package during annual Town Meeting May 20 will be held at Central School gymnasium, a change of venue. Doors will open for voter check-in at 5 p.m. and the meeting will start at 6 p.m.
