Suwannee County approves SAFER grant application to seek funding for 15 firefighter positions

The Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 to authorize county staff to apply for a FEMA SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant to fund 15 new firefighter positions intended to staff a new Station 6 and add personnel to the Dowling Park station.

Chief Dan Miller told the board Suwannee County Fire Rescue handled 8,794 calls between June 1, 2024 and June 1, 2025, and that reorganization over the past 11 months allowed the department to add advanced life-support engines and a new ladder truck. "Suwannee County Fire Rescue's handled a total calls for service of 8,794," Miller said, then outlined increases in structure, vehicle and brush fires and the department's need for permanent staffing at key stations.

Miller said opening Station 6 and adding the staff would require 15 positions at an estimated total cost of about $1.3 million. He presented an option to spread the local cost across the countyfire assessment: "That equates to 8 cents a day for $2.58 a month," Miller said, describing a $31-per-year increase per assessed residential unit if the county must fully fund the hires without grant aid. He also described revenue offsets the county expects: increased ambulance collections (about $400,000), a partnership with an air-rescue provider (about $250,000), and an interlocal with the town of Branford (about $80,000).

On the SAFER grant itself, Miller explained the federal award would initially fund positions but requires county matching in later years: "Our match is gonna be for year 1 and year 2, would be 25% ... Year 3, we have a bump up to a 65% match," he said, and noted that in year four the county would be 100% responsible for the positions. Miller asked the board to approve filing the SAFER application by the July 3 deadline and to reflect a potential $31 assessment increase in next month's preliminary rates if the grant is not awarded.

Commissioners discussed timing and options to reduce long-term costs if the grant is awarded; Commissioner White and others praised Miller's reorganization and recruitment efforts. The board then moved and seconded a motion to apply for the SAFER grant. Commissioner Hill made the motion; Commissioner Perkins seconded. The application motion passed unanimously, 5-0.

Miller said he would return to the board if the county is awarded the grant to accept funds and to present the staffing implementation plan. "If we get awarded, I would have to come back to ask approval to receive it to accept it," Miller said. He also described plans to use any locally collected offset revenue to accelerate capital work such as station renovations and new construction so the county will be better positioned to absorb the positions when the federal funding ends.

The board did not set a final local funding decision at the meeting; commissioners directed staff to include the possible assessment change in next month's preliminary budgeting materials and to return with grant outcome details for final action.