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Volunteer fire departments urge higher per-department funding, outline insurance and training costs
Summary
Leaders of volunteer fire departments serving Brazos County precincts told the court the longstanding $29,000 per-department allocation no longer covers insurance premiums, training, personal protective equipment and radios; they asked commissioners to consider increasing the allotment to $35,000–$39,000.
Representatives of Brazos County volunteer fire departments asked the Commissioners Court to increase the county allocation to each volunteer department, saying the current $29,000 per-department payment—unchanged for more than 20 years—does not cover rising insurance, training and equipment costs.
"We appreciate the $29,000 that y'all have given each department in the past," Joe Don Moore of Precinct 4 Volunteer Fire Department told the court. Moore provided a written breakdown showing annual insurance premiums due in October totaling about $18,923.70 (workers' compensation, accident/sickness, group term life and similar coverages). He said the department typically uses remaining funds to recruit and train volunteers and to buy equipment once volunteers are certified.
Moore described recruiting and training costs as a growing challenge: he said qualifications require many hours of training and certification costs about $750 per person, while personal protective equipment can run roughly $6,000 per person (structural and wildland-compliant gear). Pager and radio equipment cost approximately $625 and $7,000, respectively, per unit, he said. Departments said they delay buying radios or replacement turnout gear until recruits complete certification because of the expense.
Several commissioners expressed support for raising the per-department allocation; suggestions during the workshop ranged from $35,000 to $39,000 each. Commissioners also noted that portions of their precincts continue to respond to calls in recently annexed city areas where municipal fire stations are not yet operating, creating additional wear and operating cost for volunteer departments. No formal appropriation was made at the workshop; commissioners will consider adjustments as part of the FY26 budget process.
