BRATTLEBORO-An open letter to the Brattleboro town manager:
"Pride goeth before the fall." -Proverbs 16:18.
The real elephant in the room when discussing the Brattleboro FY26 budget is emergency medical services.
The decision in 2023 to terminate the services of Rescue Inc. was financially disastrous and continues to be. Rescue has again this year given the town administration and Selectboard a letter outlining what it would cost the town to use its services.
The town has refused to release the costs to taxpayers of staying with its own EMS provided through the Fire Department and has already started discussing the need to set aside money for a replacement ambulance (at an estimated cost of nearly $150,000 per year).
Town Meeting representatives should demand to know the real costs of EMS provided by the Fire Department.
It is time for the Selectboard to swallow its pride in making such an outrageous decision, do what's right by going back to Rescue Inc., and put the budget back where it should be.
I urge Representative Town Meeting to cut the proposed budget by the extra amount that is spent on Fire Department EMS costs.
Gail Wilson Speno
Brattleboro
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