BUCKFIELD — Selectmen on Tuesday evening scheduled a special town meeting for 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, to vote on money for Buckfield Rescue.

At the annual town meeting June 10, voters requested the proposed budget of $135,000 be cut $51,585.

On Tuesday, Rescue Chief Lisa Bennett presented the cuts, which would leave the town without daytime service and weekend coverage.

“What are we supposed to do in case of a fire or an accident?” Lucille Allen said. “This is ridiculous. We should have a special town meeting to vote the money back in.”

She was not the only one to express concerns about the loss of emergency medical services.

“The town has to provide 24-7 coverage,” Pat Ledley said. “We are getting ourselves in a terrible situation. We have trained people here and I have a machine running my heart.”

“This means you are on your own,” David Knox told fellow residents. “You better line up good friends and family to transport you to the hospital.”

Bennett said Med-Care Ambulance based in Mexico could provide services for an estimated $275,000. She also said Buckfield residents had wanted a paramedic-level service, which is costly.

She said cutting service means a revenue loss of $91,024.63.

Bennett also pointed out that the cut means the town might lose funds from Sumner and Hartford, as they pay to use Buckfield Rescue’s services.

The board voted down the budget cuts and voted for the special town meeting to reconsider the vote to cut rescue service money.

The board accepted the $100,000 cut to the summer road budget.

“The focus will be on drainage, erosion control, tree canopy removal and roadside brush cutting,” Town Manager Cynthia Dunn said.

The board was informed that the Recreation Committee bylaws allow people from Hartford and Sumner to serve.

Selectmen also voted not to have chairmen of town committees present when they review an application for a committee appointment.