Windham Receives Money for Emergency Medical Services

By Michael Ryan

WINDHAM - The fun fiscal news is the town of Windham will be receiving nearly $300,000 to do with whatever thou wilt.

Not actually really.

While government officials are free to use discretion in how some of the funds will eventually be spent, there won’t be any pecuniary partying.

A major portion, $191,507, is coming through the Greene County Legislature in the form of a subsidy for emergency medical services.

Lawmakers have committed a total of $2 million, assisting all fourteen towns in the county with painfully expensive ambulance costs.

These dollars, likely a onetime payment, are directly tied to the ongoing movement toward a unified, countywide service.

The legislative resolution contains language stating the intention is to, “help the towns coordinate efforts to standardize equipment, ensure consistency in training and collaborate toward achieving parity in wages and benefits.”

Over the past eighteen months, intensive talks have taken place involving county officials, municipal leaders and rescue professionals.

It is generally believed a shift away from municipally-operated ambulance systems is inevitable, although the timetable is subject to much debate.

There had been serious discussion about instituting the change as soon as the middle of 2026 until the expected price tag was unveiled.

County officials estimated the changeover at between $12-15 million, nearly doubling what the combined towns and county now pay.

The increase was considered justified, significantly bettering wages and benefits while simultaneously reducing employee hours that have been regularly rising beyond 80 hours per week.

Those improvements are welcomed but the large leap produced economic trepidation, resulting in the initial 2026 timeframe being considerably slowed, instead taking baby steps.

While the countywide system is still expected to unfold, it is perhaps two or three years down the road and, in the meantime, the town of Windham is spending $884,512 annually for ambulance service.

Windham supports an Advanced Life Support squad, providing paramedic expertise as well as transport to a hospital, also contracting with the neighboring town of Jewett for primary response.

Even as the calendar has decelerated on the countywide system, Windham is deeply enmeshed in conversations with surrounding towns about soon forming their own consolidated network.

Windham, within that plan, would merge with the towns of Hunter, Ashland, Lexington and Prattsville, along with Jewett, functioning as a single entity.

That harmonization could commence as soon as this year, creating not just a beneficial coalescence but also a foundation for the county vision.

Windham’s other incoming greenbacks emanate from the twice-yearly distribution of Mortgage Tax to the county’s towns and village.

Windham is reaping $107,953 in the December payment, having collected $73,000 at the first payout, this past spring.

Hoyt said the town traditionally budgets $80,000 in Anticipated Revenues from Mortgage Tax, being in seventh heaven at the extra $100 G’s.

“This shows people are still interested in buying properties and taking out mortgages in our community,” Hoyt said, noting the boodle will become Unappropriated Fund Balance for as yet undetermined purposes.

Windham found itself at the top of the Mortgage Tax pile by a sweet margin, followed by the combined town ($87,173) and village ($18,103) of Catskill;

Next were the town ($77,365) and village ($10,505) of Coxsackie, the village of Hunter ($9,237) village of Tannersville ($7,187) and town of Hunter ($65,303);

The town of Cairo ($71,257), the town ($60,029) and village ($8,561) of Athens, the town of New Baltimore ($36,245), the town of Greenville ($35,351), the town of Durham ($30,143);

The town of Jewett ($17,596), town of Lexington ($13,622), town of Ashland ($11,437), town of Prattsville ($9,767) and town of Halcott ($3,172), for a grand total of $680,015.