Fire advisory board seeks continued support, forms joint committee to plan long‑term funding changes

Dennis Godek, chair of the New Castle County Fire & Ambulance Advisory Board, told County Council on May 22 that the board and county will form a joint committee to develop a strategic plan for funding and managing the fire service following recommendations in the FACETS report.

Godek said the FACETS report recommended that county and fire leadership jointly create a strategic plan because existing grant and funding processes were unsustainable. He said the joint committee will be co‑chaired by the advisory board and a deputy CAO; membership already identified on the fire side includes officers from the County Firefighters Association and the County Fire Chiefs Association, the advisory board chair and two additional advisory board members. Godek said the county will appoint representatives from human resources, land use and finance and that a council member may be added.

On funding, Godek said the advisory board requested a 5% increase in grants‑in‑aid for FY26 — about $309,000 in total, averaging roughly $14,700 per company — and sought an additional $25,000 for special operations funding. He said year‑to‑year funding had varied, with a significant increase in FY25 after council adjustments, and that the board appreciates council’s support.

Council members asked about committee membership, public input, meeting cadence and legal support. Godek said the committee will aim for regular scheduled meetings with consistent membership and that public input will be sought; he also acknowledged the likely need for law department participation for legal review. Councilmembers emphasized transparency and the need to publish committee procedures and invite public comment during the strategic‑planning process.

No decisions on new funding formulas were taken May 22; the joint committee is to begin its work and return recommended options to council.