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Selectmen add ambulance article to warrant amid concerns about timing and funding
Summary
Acushnet selectmen voted to add an ambulance funding article to the fall warrant after the fire chief reported a December 2025–January 2026 delivery for an ambulance already on order; board members debated whether to authorize additional borrowing now or wait for clearer financing plans.
Acushnet selectmen voted on Sept. 10 to add an ambulance funding article to the fall town‑meeting warrant after a prolonged discussion about timing and town finances. The fire chief told the board an ambulance currently on order remains on schedule for delivery in December 2025 to January 2026, prompting some members to press to get the town in line for an additional vehicle sooner rather than later.
One selectman urged action to avoid the town being short‑staffed: "If we have a problem with one of our ambulances and we're left with one ambulance, you can basically take that revenue that's generated every year and you have a shortfall," he said, arguing for adding an article to the warrant to allow the town to pursue an order.
Other selectmen raised concerns about cost and repayment. The board discussed drawing on the EMS reserve fund and the town's prior practice of borrowing against reserves; members also estimated that a $4 million borrowing would require annual debt service in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and may necessitate a debt‑exclusion ballot. After debate, a motion to add an ambulance article to the warrant was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.
The board gave staff direction to continue working with the school and finance teams to evaluate funding options and to provide more detailed repayment scenarios before final authorization of borrowing.
