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Fire and EMS representative urges supervisors to increase agency funding
Summary
At the meeting, a representative from local fire and EMS agencies said county funding for those agencies is “too low” and urged supervisors to increase budgets; supervisors acknowledged the need but approved the operating budgets as presented.
A fire and EMS representative told the Washington County Board of Supervisors on March 25 that funding levels for local fire and emergency medical agencies are insufficient and should be increased.
“...in my opinion ... all of the funding for all of our fire and EMS agencies are too low,” the speaker said, urging supervisors to take another look at agency budgets and describing a history of delaying funding increases. The speaker, identified in the transcript as Mr. Estes, asked the board to consider raising both county emergency services funding and agency budgets.
Supervisors acknowledged the pressures on local emergency services, thanked volunteers and career personnel for recent flood and rescue responses, and noted the difficulty of the current budget year. The board approved the countywide fire and EMS operating budgets as presented by a 7-0 vote.
Emergency management staff also told the board the budget includes funding for swift-water team training and that equipment purchases were deferred until after teams are trained and confirmed; county staff said they will ask for equipment funds later.
The transcript records expressions of appreciation for emergency responders and teachers and multiple references to recent flood rescue efforts that shaped the board’s budgeting priorities.
