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Sheriff, emergency services outline FY27 public safety budget increases; county weighs volunteer cancer‑screening costs
Summary
Sheriff and emergency services leaders presented FY27 requests that include roughly $1 million for patrol staffing increases, a $1.7 million increase for fire operations, capital outlays and a proposed volunteer firefighter cancer‑screening program with an estimated startup cost of about $120,000 for volunteers and $53,200 for career staff.
County public safety leaders briefed the Board of County Commissioners on major components of the FY27 public safety budget and identified several new program and capital demands.
Sheriff Brian Albert reported the largest increase in the sheriff's office is for patrol wages and benefits — roughly $1,000,000 — which the sheriff said funds three new patrol deputies and a mechanic. Albert said detention center staffing will see a much smaller increase. David Hayes, director of emergency services, presented division‑level requests across air unit, special operations, TMS operations and fire operations, with the fire operations budget showing the largest increase: about $1.7 million, primarily for salaries tied to nine additional firefighters.
Hayes outlined capital needs for the air unit (AEDs, SCBA cart, classroom module), special operations (hydraulic rescue kits and absorbents for interstate incidents), and technology upgrades at the public safety training center. He also described equipment and supply requests for volunteer fire and rescue services including pagers, PPE, laptops and a small building to house a safety trailer.
Rick Enfield, representing the Washington County Volunteer Fire Rescue Association, asked the board to consider funding for cancer‑screening for volunteers. Enfield said a state grant request for $150,000 was denied; Hayes and Enfield provided startup cost estimates: approximately $53,200 to cover career personnel screening startup costs and about $120,000 estimated to begin volunteer screening, with the potential for annual costs to fluctuate thereafter.
County staff noted a $500,000 general‑ops contingency in the draft budget to assist with EMS transition costs arising from consolidations (Hancock, Smithsburg, Williamsport, ClearSpring and Halfway). Several commissioners asked clarifying questions about staffing levels and grants; the presentation was informational and budget approval remains scheduled for May as part of the FY27 process.
Next steps: the board will consider these requests during the formal FY27 budget process in May, and staff will continue to refine cost estimates for cancer‑screening and other capital requests.
