ROTTERDAM Ambulance corps hit with liens IRS rejects REMS $315,000 debt repayment plan BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Federal authorities last week froze several accounts owned by the Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services and placed liens on its property after rejecting a debt payment plan offered by the nonprofit ambulance company. The move by the Internal Revenue Service means that most of Rotterdam’s $10,000-permonth contract with REMS will now go directly to the federal government to pay off the company’s outstanding debt of roughly $315,000. Joe Vanderwerker, the chairman of the ambulance company’s Board of Directors, said the freezing of assets places a financial hardship on REMS, but shouldn’t hinder its ongoing operation. “We’re still getting enough money in to make our payroll,” he said Monday. Vanderwerker said the ambulance company was working with the IRS in the hope of waiving some of the late fees and penalties assessed by the IRS. When these expenses are subtracted, he said REMS owes the federal government about $188,000. The IRS imposed substantial tax liens against the ambulance company in November 2007 and March 2008. In both instances, the liens were for unpaid payroll taxes. Initially, the ambulance company offered to pay the IRS $4,500 per month and a lump sum of $25,000 at the end of the year to help pay down its debts within three years. But Vanderwerker said the IRS insists on levying a payment of $9,000 per month, which would seriously affect REMS’ financial stability. .................>>>>...................>>>>............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00100&AppName=1
They do a great service to the community. We had them once at our house for a minor issue, and once to my neighbors. Fast speedy service. IN the city of Schenectady, we had a drunk driver hit a parked car and was sitting in his car down the road, and took the Schenectady police 3 hrs. I know it's compairing apples and oranges, I'm just afraid of getting that kind of ambulance services without REMS. Not sure i know enough on the issue to make a sound judgment on the other hand.
I don't spell check! Sorry... If you include "No offense" in a statement, chances are, your statement is offensive.
Deputy Supervisor Robert Godlewski said the board wants an assurance from REMS that the company will remain solvent and that the town’s contribution won’t merely be used to pay off its debt to the IRS. “I don’t think that’s how the taxpayers wanted that money to be used,” he said following the board’s agenda meeting Monday.
Supervisor Frank Del Gallo said the town still supports the ambulance company, but he said it appears as though the IRS seems to be working against them. “We’re on their side,” he said. “It’s just that the federal government isn’t.”
They were kidding here...right? Bob no change, wants to make sure REMS 'continues' to remain solvent! Continues? It never was! It is just a money pit for the taxpayers!
And fdg comes out and pretty much is 'blaming' the federal government for doing their job! That the federal government is working 'against' REMS??? And this is a businessman? Someone better check his income tax records, if he honestly thinks the IRS is in the wrong here!
And let's share this inability to spend our tax dollars to the past administration who graciously handed $10,000 a month of our money to support an entity that is clearly not capable of running itself. How many hundreds of thousands of dollars do we the taxpayers have to dish out on yet another bailout due to bad business decisions? These people have got to be voted out of office!!!
PRIVATIZE IT AND NO TAXING DISTRICT! IMHO
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
No, it's comparing unaccountable and wasteful government to a private for-profit company
Exactly. This has always been a fiscal no-brainer. I can't even believe this nightmare is still in progress. IMO, a vote should never have even been necessary, in any month of any year...it is only the next best thing to the creation of this tax district by way of the permissive referendum originaly intended, until public opposition began to swell during the last election cycle. The opposition should be greater than ever now that the "district" would start with a $350k debt, not to mention others still unpaid and the immediate need to replace equipment. On top of everything, most of the town subsidy already budgeted for year will now go to the IRS. It is long past time to privatize this service.
Is anyone really surprised here? Did they really think the IRS was going to roll over like our previous town board? Remember ~ they all voted to give REMS this money and now it's the taxpayer paying off REMS debt ~ nonsense.
Vaedur ~ our community has its emergency needs answered by the town paid police/paramedics first (ALS). Then an ambulance service comes and does the transport (BLS) ~ either the non-profit ~ Mohwak ~ or other surrounding transporters.
Can't some portion of our emergency calls be paid for by the person using the service? Must everything be socialized to produce a cost for everyone ~ even if you DON'T use it?
You'll find mistakes by every service provider ~ but why lose insurance dollars (something people pay for) to pass that cost on to all the other residents?
The previous GOP candidates were wrong on this issue and should have provided the taxpayers with more protections when it came to this $10k per month thing.
Can't some portion of our emergency calls be paid for by the person using the service? Must everything be socialized to produce a cost for everyone ~ even if you DON'T use it?
Mohawk never misses a bill ... they CANT if they want to stay profitable and in business. Rotterdam EMS on the other hand, good as they may be, has a horrible history in the "billing" department, that's why they're in the position they're in now. Allowing the merger with White Eagle was the icing on the cake of bad moves.
I might consider REMS if they would show some sort of responsible book-keeping but seem to be unable to right their ship. It appears to be time to cut the financial strings. Our budget dollars should not be turned over to the Federal Gov't.
I might consider REMS if they would show some sort of responsible book-keeping but seem to be unable to right their ship. It appears to be time to cut the financial strings. Our budget dollars should not be turned over to the Federal Gov't.
Well, we'll see if this administration does the right thing by it's taxpayers. Cause the last administration certainly didn't when it came to REMS!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
How ridiculous that we are even having this conversation-----PUT THEM WITH THE POLICE/FIRE......or get ride of them....nice as the folks are it's not a business the government should be in......
....unless....unless....ya'll want the government teat for your health insurance too.....REMS is just another example of how government cant be the ones to 'valuate' us......
we reap what we sow.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
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