Tuesday residents will have a chance to voice their opinions on whether the town should bill insurance providers for ambulance services. Back in August, when the selectmen made the decision to implement billing, it seemed that the main objection from the ambulance squad was that townspeople had not been given a chance to vote on the question. Some members successfully pursued a citizens’ petition, which forced the selectmen to call a Special Town Meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, to discuss the issue.

However, the language on the petition goes one step further than calling for a town vote. It recommends that the town vote against billing for ambulance services, implying that billing would somehow compromise the squad’s volunteer spirit.

We don’t understand why the act of billing insurers would necessarily dampen the volunteer spirit of the squad. Billing for ambulance services would not change the volunteer status of its members; squad members could still pursue their ideals of helping neighbors by providing excellent medical care in a time of crisis.

Some squad members have recently weighed in, saying that billing is the right thing to do in these tough economic times. We are inclined to agree. Given the current economic climate, we find it hard to imagine why people would want to vote against taking additional funds into town coffers.

But Tuesday there will be an opportunity for all sides to present their arguments and for voters to express their thoughts and concerns. It is an important issue, and we hope townspeople will take advantage of this opportunity to participate in a community discussion on the subject with the ambulance squad and town leaders.