Finance committee backs higher per-diem for volunteer fire and rescue, approves related budget increases

The Budget and Finance Committee on May 19 voted to recommend a resolution raising the per-diem for volunteer fire and rescue from $30 to $50 per call and approved a related budget change that moves $60,000 into the volunteer per-diem line to cover increased payouts.

Committee members debated the size of the increase before voting. Commissioner Bubba Gregory described the change as “a very large jump” and calculated it would equal a 66.7% increase from $30 to $50. Commissioner Bubba Gregory also noted that, had the $50 rate been in effect last year, payouts would have been higher: "Had the number have been $50 in 2324 based on the payout of $50,004.60 ... that would have come in at $84,012 roughly," he said.

Chief Beatty and a volunteer firefighter told the committee how many personnel typically respond. A volunteer firefighter who spoke at the public microphone said, “For fire, once the page goes out, it is an all call for all members. We almost never have a % that are available to show up. We're running an average of a little over 8 members per call. We have 20 on roster.” Chief Beatty said rescue turnout is lower: three to five responders on average and an overall roster of about 20.

The committee discussed recent and projected payouts. Committee materials showed the prior year’s payout for the combined program was roughly $34,000; staff estimated that if paid at the higher rate this year the payout would rise to about $57,002.70. Committee members also noted estimated rescue payouts rising from $12,130 in 2324 to an estimated $21,480 for 2425.

Procedurally, the committee first voted to send the $50-per-call resolution forward with a favorable recommendation. During a subsequent roll-call style check used for recordkeeping, Commissioner Beverly Atwood, Commissioner Bubba Gregory, Commissioner Chris Gregory and Ms. Overman recorded votes in favor and Commissioner Gulley recorded a no; one member was absent. Later in the agenda the committee approved a motion to increase the fire department per-diem budget line to $60,000 and to adopt the broader fire budget as amended.

The committee also discussed training pay and attendance: the resolution covers $50 for training nights as well as $50 per call. A speaker identified as a volunteer noted, “We're running typically 12 to 15 per training night out of the 20 possible. And we train once a month,” and added that the $30 rate “has not been changed since 02/2016.”

The committee directed staff to reflect the adopted changes in the department’s budget documents and signaled that the FY budget will be monitored and amended as needed if actual call volumes or costs differ from estimates.

The committee adjourned before finishing EMS-specific budget items; those were left for a future meeting.