On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 6:30 PM, Duanesburg Ambulance will hold a public meeting to discuss the proposed 2027 Ambulance District budget and what it may mean for emergency medical services in our community.

The meeting will be held at:

The public is encouraged to attend.

This discussion is about more than numbers on a budget sheet. It is about a fundamental question:

What level of emergency medical service does the Town of Duanesburg expect to provide to its residents in 2027?

Duanesburg Ambulance requested approximately $190,000 in additional funding for 2027 due primarily to the loss of grant funding that helped offset operational costs in previous years.

The Town’s tentative budget currently includes an increase of approximately $48,733, leaving a significant gap between what the Ambulance District believes is necessary to maintain current operations and what may ultimately be funded.

That difference deserves an open and honest public discussion.

• Qualified EMTs
• Reliable staffing coverage
• Ambulances and medical equipment
• Vehicle maintenance and fuel
• Training and continuing education
• Medical supplies
• Insurance and regulatory compliance
• Administrative and operational support

We recognize the value of grants and will continue pursuing every available funding opportunity.

However, grants are not guaranteed and cannot be relied upon to permanently support the recurring costs of providing emergency medical services twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.

A sustainable level of service requires a sustainable funding plan.

• Would staffed coverage hours need to be reduced?
• Would response times increase?
• Would residents become more dependent on mutual aid agencies?
• Would equipment purchases or replacements be delayed?
• Would staffing or training levels be affected?
• Would operational changes become necessary to balance costs?
• Could periods occur when no ambulance is immediately available within the Town?

Last year, the Town established an Ambulance District and appointed three Commissioners to oversee ambulance district operations. Those Commissioners reviewed and approved a proposed budget designed to support ambulance services.

As the budget process continues, Duanesburg Ambulance is not simply asking for a larger number in the budget. We are asking for clarity regarding community expectations and the resources necessary to meet them.

If the Town expects uninterrupted 24/7 ambulance coverage, then the Town, the Ambulance District Commissioners, Duanesburg Ambulance, and residents should openly discuss what it takes to provide that service.

If available funding will not support the current level of coverage, residents deserve to understand what changes may be necessary before decisions are finalized.

Ultimately, this conversation is about the residents of Duanesburg.

When someone calls 911 because of a heart attack, stroke, traumatic injury, breathing emergency, or other medical crisis, people rightfully expect an ambulance to respond.

That expectation comes with a cost.

The discussion on October 6 is not simply about budget figures.

• What level of ambulance coverage does Duanesburg want?
• Does the proposed funding support that level of service?
• If not, what changes may be required?
• How could those changes affect response times and emergency medical care?
• What level of service is the Town willing to fund?