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Volunteers urge commissioners to adopt proposed fire and rescue rewards program
Summary
Volunteer fire and EMS leaders told St. Mary's County commissioners they support a new volunteer rewards program that would offer eligible volunteers a property tax credit or a stipend; county staff estimate the program could cost up to $1.6 million and would be set annually during the budget process.
St. Mary's County volunteer fire and EMS leaders urged commissioners to adopt a proposed volunteer firefighter and rescue squad rewards program intended to retain and expand the county's volunteer force.
The program, as presented by county staff, would let active volunteers opt for an annual property tax credit or a cash stipend in one of three tiered amounts based on activity level. Vanetta Van Cleave, the county chief financial officer, told the public the commissioners would reconsider and set the actual amounts each year during the county budget process.
Jay Nelson, chair of the Emergency Services Board and chief of the Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department, said the initiative represents months of collaboration between volunteer leaders and county staff. "This plan is supportive of building upon and bolstering our current volunteer system," Nelson said, adding that volunteers spent "countless hours" serving the community.
Ken Hicks, chair of the St. Mary's County Rescue Squad and Ambulance Association and chief of the Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad, said the proposed program could cost the county "up to $1,600,000" and would provide both property-tax relief and stipends to volunteers who meet minimum participation thresholds, leadership roles, or length-of-service credit requirements. "This investment is dwarfed by the value added to the community by your EMS personnel," Hicks said, citing the contribution of more than 600 volunteer EMS personnel countywide.
Resident Brandon Russell, who identified himself as supportive, urged careful implementation and noted "there seemed to be a little bit of confusion about the implementation of this" in the documents he reviewed.
No formal vote or motion was taken at the hearing; staff presented the proposal as part of the FY2026 budget process and commissioners will consider program design and funding amounts during upcoming budget workshops.
The presentation placed the program in context with other public-safety and compensation items in the recommended budget; staff emphasized the proposal is voluntary for participants and that annual parameters would be set in future budgets.
If adopted, the program would be funded from county revenues and/or fund balance allocations approved by the commissioners during the budget process. The county will accept written comments through April 29 and hold budget workshops on May 6 and May 13 before adopting the final budget on May 20, 2025.
