May 17th, 2024 by WCBC Radio

A large and vocal crowd was present Thursday evening at the Allegany County Fairgrounds, protesting one of the proposed cuts to Allegany County’s 2025 budget – a $2 million reduction in Emergency Services. Over 25 individuals spoke before the county commissioners against the budget reduction.  Steve Corioni, president of county firefighters association 1715, said the growth in service calls, moving to 24 hour service and the improved cardiac survival rates did not equate to a budget reduction…  

A possible solution that is still in discussion would be an add-on to property taxes…

Many of the speakers talked about the travel time across the county should any emergency stations be closed, putting the life and death responsibility of what could happen squarely on the shoulders of the county commissioners.  LaVale resident Donna Martin was one of the first women EMTs in the area who spoke about the importance of quick response times and laid her opinion out before the crowd…