Budget Season
Southern Berkshire Ambulance assists the Great Barrington Fire Department on a call.
Representatives from our partner towns attended a budget presentation.
It’s that time of year — budget season. Our CFO and leadership team are meeting with select boards and finance committees across South County to present our FY2026 budget and make the case for our annual assessments.
This year’s budget reflects the real costs of providing 24/7 paramedic service: staffing, vehicles, equipment, training, and the administrative infrastructure to support it all. We appreciate the thoughtful engagement of our town partners.
The Ambulance Campaign: $1.1 Million Goal
Our team practices with the Lucas mechanical CPR device while not on calls.
Our two primary ambulances are aging and will need to be replaced in the next 18-24 months. New Braun Type 1 4x4 ambulances run approximately $490,000 each. We have launched a capital campaign with a goal of $1.1 million to fund two new units.
We have already made significant progress. If you would like to contribute to the ambulance fund, please visit our Donate page.
Senator Paul Mark Visits SBAS
Senator Paul Mark (third from left) visits Southern Berkshire Ambulance Squad, with Board Member John Halbreich, COO Kevin Wall, and President Jim Santos.
State Senator Paul Mark visited our station this fall to learn about our operations and the challenges facing rural EMS in Massachusetts. Senator Mark has been a strong advocate for EMS funding at the state level, and we appreciated the opportunity to walk him through our facility and discuss the structural pressures our service faces.
Medicare and Medicaid: The Structural Challenge
The Berkshire Argus featured Southern Berkshire Ambulance Squad.
More than 60% of our calls are billed to Medicare or Medicaid, which reimburse at rates well below our actual costs. As our service area ages, this percentage increases — creating a structural funding gap that grows each year. Town assessments and community donations are essential to filling this gap.
Thanksgiving Safety
Kitchen fires are the leading cause of home fires on Thanksgiving. Never leave cooking unattended, keep flammable items away from the stovetop, and make sure your smoke detector batteries are fresh. And if you’re traveling — please don’t drive drowsy. We’ll be out there if you need us, but we’d rather you arrive safely.
New Website Coming
Our two older ambulances aren't nearly this old, but we thought these classics were worth sharing.
WWII Jeep reconfigured as an emergency medical vehicle.
Another World War II beauty. Every gift helps us get new ambulances.
We’re building a new website for Southern Berkshire Ambulance Squad at southernberkshireambulance.com. It will include information about our services, our team, donor recognition pages, and a complete archive of these newsletters. Stay tuned.
Southern Berkshire Ambulance Squad is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We rely on community donations to keep our ambulances on the road and our crews ready. Every gift makes a difference.
Donate now →