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Montgomery County proposes 24-hour career staffing at Elliston station; hiring contingent on budget
Summary
County staff told the Fire and Rescue Commission that the proposed FY2026 budget includes funding to move Elliston station from 12-hour to 24-hour coverage by hiring 12 firefighters, pending board approval and availability of living quarters during station renovation.
At the March meeting of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Commission, county staff presented a plan in the proposed fiscal 2026 budget to add a 24-hour shift at the Elliston station by hiring 12 additional firefighters.
The budget presentation, given by Miss Higgs (county staff), outlined the next steps in the county process: "the board will vote to advertise a tax rate and a proposed advertised budget Monday night on the March 24," followed by a public hearing and a scheduled adoption date. Miss Higgs said, "There is no proposed real estate increase real estate tax increase in the budget this year." The staffing proposal remains contingent on the board adopting the budget.
Michael (county staff) described the operational plan: "we've proposed to hire 12 more firefighters for the Elliston station next fiscal year that would take us from the 12 hour daytime coverage that we currently have to to 24 hour coverage down there." He added the plan would be coordinated with volunteers in the area "when they're available and around, we're all step step and step, and we're working together." Michael said the proposal is "pending the outcome of the budget approval with the board."
County staff also told the commission that providing living quarters is a precondition for 24-hour staffing. Michael said the county plans a renovation of the Elliston station that will add bunk space and other amenities; while renovation is underway the county is exploring temporary exterior options such as trailers: "we're kinda looking at doing the same thing" as other local jurisdictions that use trailers as interim living space.
Commissioners and chiefs discussed coordination between career and volunteer personnel. A chief summarized the shared-asset approach: "every truck that's in that station is a shared asset" and emphasized the goal of seamless operations regardless of whether personnel are career or volunteer.
No formal hiring action or budget adoption occurred at the commission meeting; staff presented the budget and said the hiring plan depends on the Board of Supervisors' timetable and decisions.
The county indicated it will present further details at upcoming meetings and that implementation depends on both budget approval and securing compliant living quarters for on-duty staff.
