Council committee approves $1.995M state Amos grant distribution for volunteer fire stations and equipment

Montgomery County's public safety work session on July 21 included a committee recommendation to approve Supplemental Appropriation 2576, which allocates a State 508 award from the Senator Amos Fire, Rescue and Ambulance Fund to local volunteer fire and rescue departments for station renovations and equipment.

The supplemental appropriation matters for local emergency services because it directs nearly $2 million in state grant funds to renovation and apparatus acquisition priorities identified by volunteer departments and vetted through a county review process.

Council staff said the county executive transmitted the supplemental appropriation June 11; the council introduced it June 24 and held a public hearing July 15 with no public speakers. The award amount in the packet matches the state grant: $1,995,000. Montgomery County staff and the…