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Commissioners earmark $1.6M from fund balance as placeholder for volunteer responder benefit pilot
Summary
Deputy County Administrator Dave Yingling told commissioners staff received estimates for a proposed volunteer benefit program and recommended reserving $1.6 million from fund balance as a pilot; the board asked for a full implementation presentation next week.
St. Mary's County commissioners instructed staff to reserve $1.6 million of county fund balance as a placeholder to fund a proposed volunteer first-responder benefit pilot program, with final terms to be delivered at next week's meeting.
Deputy County Administrator Dave Yingling said the $1.6 million figure is an early estimate drawn from data supplied by volunteer fire and rescue organizations, and that the program is being structured around tiered payments (Commissioner-discussed tiers: $1,000, $2,000 and $3,000 per eligible volunteer). Yingling said county attorneys have drafted needed endorsement language and that staff will return with a full proposal for the board's consideration next week.
Commissioners asked that the pilot be treated as a one-year test (funded now if the board so directs) and then reassessed after implementation. Several commissioners emphasized the pilot is contingent on final program design and confirmation of participant eligibility and administration costs. The board did not adopt a final eligibility list in the session; members asked staff to include estimated administrative overhead and legal review in next week's packet.
Ending
Staff will return a full implementation packet next week with the eligibility design, cost calculations by tier, and sample ordinance or endorsement language for the board's formal action.
