Senate committee hears request to boost funding for Vermont rural fire protection program

The Vermont Senate Committee on Institutions and Information Technology on April 1 heard a detailed presentation on the state's rural fire protection program and a request for a $70,000 annual increase to the program's appropriation.

Troy Daire, program manager for the Vermont Rural Fire Protection Program at the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts, told the committee the program has expanded from installing dry hydrants to designing more complex systems, providing permitting assistance, managing parts sales, and auditing an Enhanced 9-1-1 water-supply data layer. "The mission of the Vermont Rural Fire Protection Task Force is to improve the safety and welfare of Vermont communities by assisting local fire departments in reducing the risk of injury, loss of life, and damage to property and natural resources," Daire said.

Daire described common projects (typical dry hydrants, bridge-mounted dry hydrants, and pressurized "wet" hydrants), the service areas those systems provide, and the technical trade-offs among cost, flow rate and permitting. He said the program has funded nearly 1,200 projects across roughly 235 of Vermont's 255 towns, using about $2,250,000 in state funds and roughly $600,000 in U.S. Forest Service funds since the program's start; the program also provided repair-and-replacement grants following major flooding events such as Tropical Storm Irene in 2011.

Program staff and committee members described how current project complexity has increased permitting and engineering demands, how material prices have risen, and how older installations now require replacement or upgrades. Daire said the program currently runs on roughly $200,000 to $250,000 a year overall; personnel line items for the program have been level-funded for many years and the task force last capped state grant awards at $15,000 (occasionally increased to $20,000 for large projects). Daire said the program is asking the legislature to add $70,000 per year to stabilize engineering and personnel capacity.

Scott Moore, legislative finance manager at the Joint Fiscal Office, confirmed the House committee this morning recommended keeping the governor's proposed $125,000 annual capital request (a total of $250,000 across two years). Daire said the department transmitted the Association's request to the governor but the governor did not approve the increase; the Association is asking the Senate to consider the supplemental $70,000 in the capital appropriation.

Committee members asked for more detail to justify the increase, including (1) an inventory of how many dry or wet hydrants the program has installed, (2) an assessment of remaining gaps statewide and a projected replacement schedule or lifecycle plan, and (3) an updated cost estimate that reflects recent material-price increases. Daire and Jill (the Association's finance staff) agreed to provide a more detailed budget and an assessment of gaps and lifecycle needs at a future hearing.

Mike Nirocher, executive director for the Vermont Division of Fire Safety, praised the program's long partnership with local fire departments and program staff, and said the program also provides education and technical assistance beyond its grants. Committee members noted potential insurance benefits from improved water supplies but were careful to say insurance rate effects depend on insurer practices and ISO analyses; Daire explained the relevant standards used by insurers include NFPA-derived availability studies and ISO rating components.

The committee did not take a final vote on funding during the hearing. Members asked program staff to return with the requested documentation and with specific examples of where the $70,000 would be spent. The committee chair said staff should provide numbers on installed hydrants, estimated need to reach reasonable statewide coverage, and a ten-year replacement/maintenance schedule if possible.