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By Jim Lonergan
MANASQUAN, NJ – In a move that promises significant savings for local taxpayers, the Manasquan Borough Council unanimously approved two resolutions at its recent meeting, formalizing the transition of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to Monmouth County. This decision, which ends the partnership with Belmar and South Monmouth EMS, will take effect on December 31, 2024, and will save the borough approximately $474,000 annually.
The shift comes as part of the council's commitment to achieving "Economies of Scale" by utilizing Monmouth County's ability to provide services at a larger scale without increasing, and in this instance, reducing municipal expenses. Resolutions 326-2024 and 329-2024 lay the foundation for a new Shared Services Agreement (SSA) with Monmouth County, ensuring that EMS operations for Manasquan will begin on or around January 1, 2025. The new county-managed EMS service comes at no additional cost to the borough, resulting in substantial savings for taxpayers. Mayor Mangan added, “this 4-town shared service was never built to be a long-term partnership. It was built to address an immediate need in 2022, and it turned out to be a success. With the two-and-half year agreement up at the end of this year. This was always the plan. The money we were taking out of surplus to try and fund this shared service, we no longer have to.”
Monmouth County has been a proponent of shared services, aiming to reduce costs and improve efficiencies across municipalities. The county's Office of Shared Services facilitates partnerships by providing services, equipment, and resources to local government entities. This initiative has led to significant savings and enhanced service delivery for participating towns. At a recent Shared Services summit held by Monmouth County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone stated,"We know how challenging it is to maintain an annual budget without raising taxes, but together we can continue to help reduce the heavy tax burden on our residents and preserve the high quality of life we all have come to enjoy in Monmouth County.”
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Councilman Holly added, “As it relates to the service aspect of EMS, we've spent much time with County Sheriff Golden and Commission Director Tom Arnone, along with the mayor, council, police chief, and administrator of Manasquan, we feel this is both the best financial and at the same time the best service outcome. That said, we were very happy with the service Belmar provided. In the end, we feel very comfortable, based on many meetings with the County, that the service will be as good, if not better than the current service.” Councilman Olivera add, “this wasn't necessarily a financial decision. The finances made the decision very easy. Public safety is paramount. If we didn't feel that this service wasn't going to live up to the current shared services, we would have paid the money.”
In response to challenges such as staffing shortages in volunteer EMS squads, the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office launched MedStar, a county-run EMS operation, in early 2024. MedStar assists local agencies by responding to emergency medical calls, ensuring timely and effective services for residents. The program has been instrumental in supporting municipalities facing difficulties in maintaining adequate EMS coverage.
Manasquan's decision aligns with a regional trend of municipalities, opting for county-managed EMS services to leverage economies of scale and reduce local expenditures. Sea Girt, for instance, recently notified Belmar of its intent to transition its EMS services to Monmouth County, reflecting a growing preference for such collaborative agreements.
The shift to county-provided EMS services will eliminate the $474,000 annual expense from Manasquan's municipal tax obligations. This reduction directly benefits taxpayers, as the funds can be reallocated to other community needs or contribute to tax relief, all while maintaining high-quality emergency medical services.
Click HERE for an earlier story on Sea Girts EMS decision.
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