Volunteer fire chiefs seek a $2,500 property-tax rebate for active volunteers; EMS asks for higher base call and retention support

Leaders of Worcester County's volunteer fire service and EMS asked commissioners on April 14 for new county measures to recruit and retain personnel, including a county-level property-tax rebate and higher per-call and personnel funding for EMS.

Dave Fitzgerald, vice president of the Worcester County Volunteer Fire Association, presented a package of funding requests assembled with chiefs and presidents from the county's companies. The association asked the county to maintain existing training and physical-health funds and to increase payments for smaller rural companies.

Andy Grunden, the Berlin fire chief (substituting for the Fire Chiefs Committee chair), outlined a recruitment-retention proposal that would offer a property-tax rebate of roughly $2,500 to qualifying property owners who meet an "active year" threshold under the county's LOSAP (length-of-service award program) rules. Grunden said the estimated fiscal exposure to the county is "just under $600,000" if the program is adopted on the terms the chiefs will propose and track with deed records to verify property ownership.

Commissioners asked for clarifications about eligibility and oversight. Commissioner Bertino asked how active service would be defined and whether it would advantage volunteers in busier companies. Grunden and other chiefs said the same LOSAP active-year standard (point-based participation for calls, training and duties) would be used across all companies, and the program would be administered using existing LOSAP reporting tools and county human-resources verification.

EMS leaders asked commissioners to raise the Medicare-based base call reimbursement rate (proposing $285 per base call) and to increase per-FTE support to $15,000 in order to remain competitive with neighboring jurisdictions. The Mobile Integrated Community Health team reported enrollment and referral numbers and said continued county funding produces net savings for local health providers by reducing repeat emergency calls.

Next steps: county staff and the volunteer association will provide an itemized spreadsheet showing qualifying property owners and the estimated county cost; commissioners asked staff to return with options and legal/administrative processes for any rebate mechanism.