Temporary Reprieve for Harrison EMS

Harrison town officials have reached an agreement with Harrison Emergency Medical Services, Fios1 reports.

The agency had announced Friday it was suspending operations, because the town had withheld $137,000, its usual quarterly stipend.

Town officials said the department had been financially mismanaged for years and was not forthcoming about its finances.

Harrison EMS, the former volunteer ambulance corps, is a third-party to the town. It provides emergency response at fires, car accidents and medical emergencies on a daily basis, providing aid to those in need in Harrison, West Harrison and Purchase. The town pays a stipend to the department to help fund operating costs. The remainder of its budget is paid through billing and donations.

Funding has been an issue for Harrison EMS for years. In 2014, Chief Joseph Bilotto told Patch a reduction in staff or a cut back to one truck might be necessary. He said the town's stipend of $500,000 annually had not increased since 2008.

It now receives $548,000, according to Fios1. Fios1 reported that as of Sunday, town and EMS officials had agreed that Harrison EMS would get a portion of its quarterly payment, to keep things running for a month.

The town board is to discuss the issue at its next meeting, April 7.