Ambulance
The subject of providing a publicly funded ambulance service or using a private ambulance company has been the subject of much discussion lately. Milford voters were asked to choose between public or private ambulance service in the Spring of 2005. Bedford selectmen looked into using a private ambulance service in late 2004 until they found out it would not reduce the headcount in the fire department.
I thought it might be interesting to see how ambulance service is provided by the different municipalities in all the New England States. In doing this research, Rhode Island fire departments provide the primary emergency ambulance service to its municipalities whereas Vermont fire departments appear to have moved away from a municipal ambulance and instead rely on non-profit ambulance services. Maine, on the other hand, relies more heavily on the local hospitals than any of the other New England States.