New Castle County committee adopts FACETS priority list; orders countywide deployment study and funding review

The New Castle County Fire Service Strategic Planning Committee on Feb. 11, 2026, unanimously approved a prioritized set of recommendations drawn from the FACETS report and assigned staff a series of next steps, including a countywide deployment and operational study and a review of funding options that could use authority under House Bill 127.

Co-Chair Kenny Dunn called the meeting to order at 2:02 p.m. The Committee reviewed the January 28, 2026 minutes; Joe Day requested a correction to Item 5(a) to read “with credit for existing square footage.” John Adams moved to approve the minutes as corrected, Kevin Cowperthwait seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.

The Committee then reviewed and ranked FACETS recommendations. It designated a comprehensive deployment and resource analysis as its top priority, directing that the study determine the appropriate number and type of emergency resources, station locations and potential consolidations, whether additional stations are needed, staffing needs, placement of specialized units, ownership considerations for future BLS and fire resources, and shared reserve apparatus utilization. Members cautioned that the deployment study may surface difficult choices, including potential consolidation or resizing of companies, and emphasized that study outcomes would require further deliberation and likely legislative action before any implementation.

The group named sustainable funding structure as the second-highest priority. Members discussed options including maintaining current funding levels if moved to a dedicated fire-fee line item and noted that implementation by July 2027 "may not be feasible" because of ordinance, budget-cycle, and administrative constraints. The Committee asked staff to review House Bill 127 implementation requirements, analyze current funding levels and sources, identify potential dedicated-fee structures, evaluate municipal contribution models and credit systems, and examine impacts on the County general operating budget.

FACETS’ recommendation on equipment standardization was discussed in the funding context. The Committee noted multiple SCBA brands and other incompatible equipment are currently in use and that standardization could reduce long-term costs; members also noted transition planning would be required because of staggered replacement cycles and that enforcement mechanisms would likely tie to funding eligibility.

The Committee combined several recommendations into a third priority: centralized ambulance billing and vendor performance standards. The Committee endorsed exploring centralized billing administration, setting a minimum 365-day collection period, a five-notification billing requirement, standardized financial transparency, and a vendor bad-debt approval process. Members asked staff to inventory current ambulance-billing vendors and contract terms, compare collection timelines and performance, and evaluate whether a County-led RFP or centralized administration is feasible.

High Priority #4 focused on municipal responsibility and cost sharing. Committee members noted municipal contributions vary and some municipalities receive credits against County taxes; the Committee directed staff to compile municipal contribution data, analyze disparities, and prepare options for equitable cost sharing as part of any funding-reform proposal.

On medium-priority items, members recommended continued work on group purchasing and shared professional services (accounting, HR, grant-writing), and flagged certain financial-practice recommendations (sweep accounts, CD strategies, event-hall profitability, volunteer and live-in programs) as largely operational matters for independent corporations or lower priorities relative to deployment and funding reform.

Kevin Cowperthwait moved to approve the prioritization list as discussed and ranked; Dan Burris seconded. The motion passed unanimously. No public comment was offered. The meeting adjourned at 3:31 p.m.

Next steps assigned to staff include defining the deployment-study scope and preparing a summary framework for the next meeting; reviewing HB 127 implementation requirements and outlining phased implementation options (the Committee noted a post-FY27 target may be necessary); inventorying ambulance-billing vendors and drafting minimum vendor-performance standards; and compiling municipal contribution charts and identifying municipalities requiring further engagement.