The future of emergency management services in Marbletown were front and center at Monday night's town board meeting.

Last month, the Marbletown First Aid Unit — which provides services to the town —  announced they would move to a partially paid model.

This would allow for better service during the busiest times of the day.

The move though would cost about $20,000 for the rest of this year and the rescue unit will be asking for more than $200,000 in funding as they prepare for 2020.

The town board says it would mean a 35 percent tax increase for residents, but the chief of the unit says the change has already increased the response rate to emergencies.

"All over the country, volunteerism is in decline, so anything we can do to bring medical care to our community, we are ready for it,” said Marbletown First Aid Unit Chief Karen Pardini. “And we are ready, and we are excited about this big change that's happening for us."

The town board and rescue unit board agreed to continue the discussion but no commitment has been made about funding.