NEW SCOTLAND — Active emergency service volunteers in this town will now receive $700 a year in retirement benefits, a $220 increase from this year’s $480.

On Tuesday night, all three voter referendums, one in each district, passed overwhelmingly in favor of the increase. Any registered voter could cast a ballot; turnout was low.
The result "is good news," said Craig Shufelt of the New Salem Volunteer Fire Department late on Tuesday after his district’s votes had been tallied. "Everyone was happy," he said describing the volunteers at the firehouse. Now, he said, "We’ll have to see if it has an impact."

The Length of Service Award Program, LOSAP, is an optional state program funded through local tax dollars. Its purpose is to use retirement benefits to entice volunteers into joining and remaining active in ambulance squads and fire departments.
"Volunteerism is a dying breed," Shufelt said, but he added, the approved increase "is a good note."

Volunteers earn the benefits per year, but are not able to collect the money until they are 65, when they receive one lump sum. Then, if a members remains active past 65, they will receive $700 checks each year.

An individual qualifies for the benefits each year only after garnering 50 points for completing various activities throughout the year such as by going to drills, being on call, or running educational seminars. Members can even receive one point for participating in parades.

This year, the state legislature approved an optional increase of the maximum benefits that can be rewarded up to $700. The New Scotland Town Board unanimously supported the increase this summer and scheduled the referendums, as mandated by law.

The Voorheesville Volunteer Fire Department was the only service company in town that did not request a retirement benefit increase, because it will be requesting $1.2 million for a project to renovate the firehouse. Village Mayor Jack Stevens previously said that will already be a large increase in the village taxes.

Voorheesville firefighters will continue to receive the LOSAP benefits at this year’s rate of $480 annually.

The vote for the Voorheesville Area Ambulance Service referendum was 37 in favor and zero opposed, Shufelt said Tuesday night.

The expense of Voorheesville’s LOSAP is shared between the village and the town.

Mark Wilson, president of the Onesquethaw fire and emergency services, said that his district received 47 votes in favor and six opposed. The New Salem District referendum result was 36 yeses and one no, Shufelt said.

The Onesquethaw Volunteer Company serves the hamlets of Clarksville, Unionville, and Feura Bush. It also provides ambulance service to the southern side of New Scotland.

The New Salem Volunteer Fire Department responds to fire emergencies in the other half of town, which surrounds the village of Voorheesville.

The Voorheesville Area Ambulance Service Inc. provides basic life support services to the village and to the New Salem Fire District area.

In 2004, Onesquethaw had 61 people who qualified for benefits and New Salem had 28 members qualify. If the same number qualify in 2006, now with the increase, the total annual expense for the town taxpayers will be $62,300 just for Onesquethaw and New Salem.