def# 79 05/06/09
FREEHOLDERS TELL GOVERNOR DON’T TOUCH EMT TRAINING FUND
TOMS RIVER – Using money dedicated to the state’s Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund for any other purpose
than assisting in the training of EMTs is improper use of the fund, according to the Ocean County Board of Chosen
Freeholders.
The Board passed a resolution today opposing Gov. Corzine’s budget submission that would withdraw $4 million of dedicated
trust funds from the training fund to be used for other areas of the state’s budget.
“Most of our municipalities rely solely on volunteers to staff first aid squads and fire companies,” said Freeholder John
P. Kelly, who serves as director of Law and Public Safety. “To withdraw money from this fund which plays a crucial role in
training our emergency responders is just bad business.”
The freeholders are joining with state legislators in the Ninth District who also oppose the funding cuts.
“Governor Jon S. Corzine, in his budget submission, proposed to withdraw $4 million from the dedicated trust fund in an
effort to balance the state budget, which will leave only $400,000 in the fund for training,” according to the freeholder
resolution.
Kelly said the remaining funds are insufficient to provide financial assistance to EMTs who will then have to pay out of
pocket for required continuing education classes.
“In Ocean County, we provide initial training and ongoing training to our volunteers at the Ocean County Training Center,”
said Freeholder Director John C. Bartlett Jr. “Thousands of our residents have received their training at the center.”
Kelly noted the loss of these funds will have a significant detrimental impact to the training programs at the Ocean
County Training Center.
“It is vitally important the New Jersey State Legislature reject the Governor’s proposal in its deliberations of the state
budget,” Kelly said. “These volunteers are in the forefront of public health and safety. This is not an area of the budget
that should be considered for a reduction in funding.”
