York voters green-light $500,000 for ambulance service

York residents approved a plan on Tuesday to send $500,000 to the York Ambulance Association. The vote was 7,096 in favor and 1,291 against. Town officials say they will use money from the unassigned fund balance to keep the service running until its current contract ends in July 2027.

The ambulance group will receive the first $300,000 immediately. It will earn the remaining balance in monthly installments. The town will only continue payments if the association meets specific conditions set by local officials. Leaders say they will keep looking for ways to switch to an in-house emergency medical service in the future.

Voters also made a ban on single-use plastics permanent. The measure passed 5,921 to 2,287. Restaurants and other businesses in York already had to use compostable stir sticks, straws, and utensils. The rule was first adopted in May 2025 but was scheduled to expire on Dec. 31 unless voters extended it.

The town also banned automated license plate reading cameras. Residents voted 5,386 to 2,043 to pass the measure. The York Police Department ended its contract with the technology provider Flock Safety in September. That move followed a citizen petition that collected 115 signatures. Police also removed at least four cameras from public property. The new ordinance prevents any public agency in the town from using the technology, which is already restricted by state law.

Voters approved a question to reorganize disaster relief funds. That measure passed 6,896 to 1,127. A separate ordinance redefining requirements for wireless communication antennae also passed. That vote was 6,130 in favor and 1,511 against.

The final question on the ballot set new rules for which projects could use general obligation funds versus revenue bonds. That item was placed on the ballot by citizen petition. It was the only measure that failed to gain broad support. A total of 3,962 people voted to approve the ordinance while 3,579 voted against it.