The Northumberland County Board of Supervisors voted Jan. 8 to endorse an application by the Department of Emergency Services for the 2026 Rescue Squad Assistance Fund (RSAF), authorizing staff to apply for two projects to buy personal protective equipment and transport ventilators.

Chief of Emergency Services Chris Bailey told the board the RSAF is a reimbursement grant administered by the Virginia Office of EMS, with applications opening Feb. 1 and closing March 16. He said recent vendor quotes reduced the combined cost of both projects from about $130,000 to roughly $104,000 and estimated a county match for the PPE request of $30,531.50 if the award is a 50/50 reimbursement. Bailey said the EMS billing account — with a balance reported as just under $630,000 — is the intended source to temporarily fund purchases that would be reimbursed by the RSAF.

“Traditionally, we’ve been very successful with RSAF,” Bailey said, describing the PPE request as NFPA-compliant structural and extrication gear to improve responder safety, and the ventilators as devices that “improve airway management and air transport” and reduce provider fatigue.

Supervisors pressed for clarity on costs and the likelihood of full funding. One supervisor noted that RSAF awards often are reduced from requests and that 100 percent funding is uncommon; Bailey acknowledged that some awards are 50/50 or lower and said the department included the projects in the CIP for FY27. After discussion about budget impacts and the EMS billing account’s ability to front costs, the board moved and approved allowing Bailey to submit the RSAF application listing two projects on one application.

The endorsement does not commit the county to a final appropriation; the board indicated it would consider supplemental appropriations if and when awards are made. The RSAF is reimbursement-based, meaning the county must initially fund purchases and later seek payment from the state program.

Next steps: the department will submit the RSAF application by March 16 and, if awarded, return to the board for any needed supplemental appropriation to finalize purchases.