A public commenter told the Health, Welfare & Recreation Committee on June 26 that a program that had supported volunteer fire departments did not make it into this year’s budget and that volunteer fire departments should be told not to count on that money.

Why it matters: committee members said volunteer fire departments rely on predictable funding for equipment and operations; if a program has lapsed or not been funded, departments need timely notice so they can plan.

During the meeting, the commenter, identified in the transcript as Mister Chambers, asked the committee to "consider for next year" continuing the program. Chambers said the program "didn't get through the budget" and that "that program has expired, but it didn't ever get expired on the books. That's why it's still continuing on."

Committee members discussed how to communicate the funding status to volunteer departments. The committee did not take formal action at the meeting to notify departments; members said the volunteer departments could ask about funding in future budget hearings and that the county would inform them that the money was not guaranteed for the coming year.

Ending: No motion or vote was recorded on the matter during the meeting. Committee members said they would communicate informally and that the topic could be revisited during upcoming budget discussions.