On behalf of the New York EMS community, we thank you for your continued support and urge you to sign A2177, which passed both houses with strong bipartisan support. This bill will give municipalities the budgetary flexibility to sustain EMS systems by exempting EMS costs from the local property tax cap calculation.

Most EMS agencies operate primarily on insurance reimbursements, which consistently fall short of the true cost of readiness, response, and patient care. Local subsidies are already modest, but they are often the only thing keeping ambulances staffed and responding to 911 calls. It simply removes the artificial constraint that makes it nearly impossible to fund EMS appropriately under the tax cap.

This bill:

• Protects EMS professionals, who are facing wage stagnation, burnout, and declining morale;
• Prevents ambulance deserts from expanding in rural and suburban areas;
• Preserves rapid 911 response, especially in communities where volunteerism is declining and staffing is stretched thin.

This bill is not a threat to affordability—it is a targeted, responsible adjustment that protects the public health of New Yorkers and ensures EMS systems (and New York State EMS providers) can continue to function. We urge your signature on A2177 and stand ready to work with your office on ensuring transparency and accountability.

Sincerely,

As a concerned New Yorker and supporter of our first responders, I respectfully urge you to sign A2177, a bipartisan bill that removes emergency medical services (EMS) from the property tax cap calculation. This change will give local communities the flexibility they need to maintain and strengthen EMS while governing responsibly.

EMS professionals are on the front lines, responding to 911 calls with compassion and skill. Yet the system is under stress. Agencies face staffing shortages, increased call volume, and rising costs that insurance payments alone can’t cover. Local governments need the ability to invest in EMS without facing penalties under the tax cap.

This is not about growing government. It’s about keeping ambulances on the road and ensuring trained paramedics and EMTs are there when New Yorkers need them most. Please support our communities and first responders by signing A2177 into law.

Sincerely, %first_name% %last_name%, %address% %city% %state% %postcode% %country%