Palmer Town Council Backs Local Fire Department to Fill ALS Ambulance Gap

PALMER — February 10, 2025 — Palmer Town Council signals support for Palmer Fire ALS ambulance contract amid $1 million budget gap. At the February 10 meeting, Town Manager Brad Jackson told councilors that health insurance costs alone will consume $900,000 of the town's $1.9 million in new FY26 revenue, leaving roughly $500,000 before any salary increases or departmental needs are addressed and creating an estimated $1.1 million structural deficit. Palmer Fire District No. 1 Chief Burnett and Captain Fitz proposed a three-year agreement — $132,000 in FY26, falling to $110,000 in FY28 — to build a full advanced life support operation, with a realistic launch window of August to November 2025; outside vendor quotes ranged from $150,000 to $320,000 annually. The council took no formal vote but directed Jackson to continue negotiations and circulate a draft contract, while Town Accountant Gabriella Potter flagged that any revenue shortfall from the ambulance service would fall on District No. 1 taxpayers rather than the full town. Bob Habilis, vice chairman of the Palmer Ambulance Service Board of Directors, opened the meeting with a history of the 40-year nonprofit, saying Bay State Health's 2020 decision to route Wing Hospital transports through AMR cut call volume from 4,042 annual transports to a low of 1,597, adding the organization had saved the town an estimated $25 million to $35 million over its lifetime.