Fire Prevention Commission budget review leaves most new positions and wellness program unfunded
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Summary
At a Joint Finance Committee orientation, OMB recommended keeping the Fire Prevention Commission's base appropriation steady while declining most requested new positions and discretionary items, prompting lawmakers and unions to press for more detail on salary alignment and funding for firefighter wellness and training.
The Joint Finance Committee reviewed the Fire Prevention Commission’s FY27 budget in an orientation session focused on staffing, training and program support. OMB presented a governor’s recommendation that holds the commission’s general fund appropriation near current levels and declines most agency requests for new positions and discretionary funding.
OMB budget analyst Smith told the committee the governor’s recommended general fund appropriation for the commission is $9,445,700 and that several door‑opener and 1% discretionary requests were not recommended. Not recommended items included a $150,000 personnel package (overtime, callback pay and dog‑handler costs), a requested investigator position (1 FTE, $97,500), administrative specialist positions to support investigations and compliance, and $40,000 to develop a first‑responder mental health wellness program.
John Rudd, the state fire marshal, said his office had no door openers this year and reported no vacancies, noting the office’s workload from plan reviews, inspections and investigations. He told the committee, “For our agency summary this year, my agency, we have no door openers.” Fire School Director Tucker Dempsey described training expansions and improved EMT certification pass rates, and he repeated the school’s request for an administrative specialist and an IT manager to support certificates and new electronics for classes.
Committee members sought clarification about the commission’s authority to set an executive director’s salary and the status of the mental‑health app pilot. One lawmaker pressed whether the commission can “adjust the executive director’s salary to align with those of the state fire marshal and the fire school director.” OMB Director Brian Maxwell said the commission makes recommendations but any salary change must proceed through DHR or OMB processes.
Union and fire‑service leaders urged more resources. Paul Thornberg, secretary‑treasurer of Teamsters Local 326, said job descriptions and classifications understate current duties and asked the committee to consider the $150,000 personnel request to address salary and classification gaps. Gerald Manley Jr., president of the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association, backed a $500,000 baseline appropriation proposal for mandatory training under regulation 709 and urged increases to the rescue‑tool grant and one‑time department balance payments.
Agency leaders and the committee agreed on follow‑up work: OMB will provide a breakdown of the $150,000 personnel request, the commission and fire school will supply a 10‑year budget history, and staff will report back on participation and costs tied to the mental‑health app and other discretionary items at formal markup.
The committee recessed to take additional testimony and scheduled further questions for the full markup session Monday.