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Emergency Services reduces request by $5,000 but warns of fire service costs; $25–28M estimated to convert to career service
Summary
Roger Bennett, acting director for the Department of Emergency Services, presented a FY26 request reduced by $5,000 and outlined spending for dispatch/reporting, NFPA testing and preparedness payments to volunteer fire companies.
Roger Bennett, acting director for the Department of Emergency Services, presented the Emergency Services Board’s FY26 request and said the board reduced its county request by $5,000 from the prior year.
Bennett described three budget categories supporting the volunteer fire service: the I Am Responding system (used for first-responder alerts and to submit fire reports that unlock state Fire/Rescue Assistance funds), third-party hose/ladder/pump testing required by NFPA and local code, and formula-based preparedness disbursements to fire companies. He said the board brings in a third-party contractor for testing to limit county liability and that these amounts represent just a portion of the costs local departments face.
Bennett said that if the county replaced volunteer departments with a career service, estimates place the minimal operating cost at roughly $25 million to $28 million. He said the Emergency Services Board is also researching a multi-year approach to reduce workers’ compensation expenses for departments and that any substantial reform would be a long-term effort; no new appropriation for that purpose was requested this year.
Commissioners thanked Bennett. He said the board hopes to return unused funds at year-end again and emphasized efforts to keep expenses within budget. No formal vote was taken during the presentation.
