The Gloucester County Freeholders are trying to

raise our taxes to provide a service that

many residents already receive for free

Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders is trying to change the way Emergency Medical Services operate here in Gloucester County.

This is the same tactic the Freeholders tried to sneak through with the school districts in Gloucester County

The County intends to Take Over and regionalize the emergency medical services.

The County intends to reduce the current number of ambulances and stations throughout Gloucester County.

This County plan is inconsistent, contradictory and flawed due in large part to their planning to start a new method of operating instead of assisting with and supplementing the current structure.

Key Points to consider

1. The County intends to create 8 to 10 hubs positioned throughout Gloucester County.

A. Response time alone will increase to your household. Would you want to wait

upwards of 15-20 minutes for an ambulance to get to your loved ones.

B. Individual Hubs or Stations will be responsible for more than one municipality.

This could mean longer wait times if an ambulance has to come from another

station/hub.

C. Certain municipalities in Gloucester County have a higher call volume due to higher population or

large industry and commercial business. These towns are used to having more than one ambulance cover the

municipality 24 hours a day. This is not possible with the county's regionalization plan.

2. Not only will you be taxed, they will bill your insurance companies as well.

3. When meeting with individual Municipalities, there is NO information being given.

A. What's the budget, how much will it cost the tax payers, who determined that my residents,

who already have a good service, are going to be taxed?

4. Has the County of Gloucester Board of Chosen Freeholders actually approved the establishment of the Regionalization?

-It (regionalization)is being acted upon as if it is already approved. Where exactly in the past 12 meetings was it determined there was a problem, and the County taking over the EMS operations of the county was the way to go instead of supporting and propping up of existing infrastructure?

5. Exploratory Committee to determine the need for Regionalization. Exactly when was it determined there is a need, for whom.....by whom?!?!?

6. What will happen to the existing 50 plus ambulances if this were to occur. Why is the plan to totally eliminate all that currently exists & start new?

7. Who will stand to gain? Certainly not the residents.

8. EMS Coordinator position: who actually approved this?

Quotes from Exploratory Committee meeting minutes -

-"The mission of this project is to enhance what is currently in place." That's not how the project is progressing.

-"The Career EMS Chiefs met the day before. Charlene shared their main question about funding regionalization. The group discussed different options and feel that a broad based tax would be the best approach." Is that what was discussed? Career Chiefs said yes to a tax???

-"Similar to dispatch, eventually most, if not all, will join after the County shows it will provide a good service." After our taxes are driven up and there's no possible way that you can continue to substantiate why you are not part of the County System. Very arrogant!

-"Gerry White noted that spending caps are motivating a lot of towns to consider regionalization." Whereas the County does not limit itself, they're the County.

-"A question which has been asked numerous times is if a town chooses not to participate will they still have to pay. The answer is yes “broad based support for broad based benefits”. This service will benefit County residents as a whole." Again, the Committee has exaggerated the problem that only exists in a few towns. This will fly much better if it is an “opt-in” choice. The County knows this, but will not consider it.

-“letters of intent” from municipalities, how can letters of intent be requested if no detailed information was provided, or all the municipalities visited? VIEW THE LETTER AND AGREEMENT - HERE

“The mission of this project is to enhance what is currently in place.” Chad Bruner, October 11, 2006 What will it be, enhance or start to tax and then take over the EMS service, adding to an already bloated government? Oh, don’t forget those special patronage jobs this new project will create…..and the current jobs that will be lost.

“Is fire service next?...If sometime in the future, the need presents itself, fire service would also be explored.” October 11, 2006 Attention Firefighters! The County WILL come after you next!! They will make sure of it.