County council approves memorandum of agreement with volunteer fire and rescue association for FY26

The Montgomery County Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution indicating its intent to fund the FY26 terms of the memorandum of agreement with the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (MCVFRA).

The memorandum covers terms through FY2026 and the council’s action was limited to the provisions that change county appropriations for FY26. Council member Friedson moved the motion to approve; Council Vice President Juan Do seconded the motion, and the measure passed by a unanimous hand vote.

The agreement includes a 4% increase to length-of-service awards, an $11,497 increase in association operating funds and an increase to a nominal fee that varies by volunteer unit size (the packet mapped it between $650 and $1,400). County staff said the total FY26 fiscal impact tied to the items before council was assumed in the county executive’s proposed budget and described in committee materials as “approximately $90,000”; a later staff summary in the same discussion gave a total impact figure of about $73,000 for the listed FY26 items.

MCVFRA executive director Mister Bernard thanked the council and highlighted the volunteer force’s size and role. “We have almost 1,400 that are providing operational resources alongside our sisters and brothers in the IAFF,” Bernard said during the meeting. He added, “We have one of the best fire and rescue systems in this country. So we thank you for your support for your volunteers.”

The council’s public safety committee had reviewed the appropriations and recommended approval before the full-council vote.

The resolution references the council’s previously enacted Bill 41-23 in describing the length-of-service award adjustment. The council did not specify individual vote tallies in the public record for this motion; the chair characterized the outcome as unanimous.