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Fire‑rescue grant funds proposed to cover turnout gear, prompting debate over department posts on social media
Summary
County administrator proposed using a state grant for fire services equipment and training rather than local taxpayer funds; supervisors discussed an employee letter on social media and asked administration to enforce county policy.
King George County officials debated how to fund turnout gear, training and other fire‑rescue expenses after County Administrator Mr. Smolnick proposed using state "aid to locality" grant funds to cover those costs instead of drawing on the general fund.
Smolnick told the board the county's FY2026 allocation from the statewide insurance premium grant will be about $1,136,950 and that the grant explicitly allows pay‑for‑training, turnout gear, public education and equipment. "If we have a $136,000 grant to pay for PPE and training, we should use the free money first rather than using taxpayer money," he said.
The administrator announced line‑item reductions in the draft operating budget for fire‑rescue that shift $35,000 of turnout‑gear expense and roughly $45,000 for training and public‑education line items to grant sources; staff said the department's overall capacity to buy equipment will remain in place through the grant and other non‑general fund sources.
Separately, Supervisor Collins said some department members circulated an internal letter and public social‑media posts urging continued general‑fund support; he criticized posts that present a partial account of county budget planning and said department personnel are county employees who must follow county policy. "If people break rules, that's a matter for enforcement," Collins said.
The fire‑rescue chief and staff told the board they will continue to seek outside resources — including contributions tied to new energy projects and grants — for training and protective equipment.
Board members asked staff to produce a clear summary showing which items will be funded from the state grant and which remain in the general‑fund budget, and to confirm that grant procurement and use will meet the grant terms and county procurement rules. Smolnick said he will report that reconciliation before the advertised public hearing on the draft budget.
