Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) today joined with his colleagues in the State Assembly to pass a resolution memorializing Gov. Cuomo to proclaim May 20-24, 2013 as Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Week in the State of New York.

“I’ve said many times that volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel are the backbone of our rural communities,” said Palmesano. “These dedicated men and women provide an invaluable service to our families and are absolutely deserving of our thanks for their efforts. I’m very happy to join with my Assembly colleagues in thanking these volunteers, and I encourage everyone to do the same.”

In upstate New York, volunteers are particularly important, as it is estimated that 95 percent of all firefighters are volunteers. Additionally, more than half of the 57,000 EMS workers throughout the state are volunteers. The demand for volunteers has grown in recent years, as the number of volunteer firefighters has decreased by roughly 20,000 since 2003.

Palmesano also noted that in addition to the safety and security these volunteers provide, they also save taxpayers billions of dollars. Were the services provided by volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel to be paid positions, it would cost taxpayers an estimated $7 billion, which would cause a significant increase in property taxes.