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Multiple Hamilton County emergency services seek larger budgets; audit office to shift bookkeeping for volunteer departments
Summary
Volunteer and municipal emergency-response organizations asked Hamilton County for higher operating and capital support—requests included an 11% increase for Hamilton County Stars and a $40,899 HVAC install for station two—while audit staff proposed outsourcing day-to-day bookkeeping for volunteer fire departments to a third party.
Several volunteer and municipal emergency-response organizations told the Hamilton County Commission they need larger operating and capital budgets to replace aging apparatus, upgrade stations and sustain regional response capabilities.
Klay Engel, speaking for Hamilton County Stars, asked for roughly an 11% increase (from about $123,467 to $136,900) citing added fleet and facility costs and new equipment needs. Engel said the unit is working to fund a new swift-water trailer and described a separate capital need at "station two," where he requested $40,899 to install a five‑ton HVAC system so the facility can support dive and water-rescue operations.
"We're trying to save a little money out of our budget each year to replace vehicles as needed ... So I'm asking for an extra $40,000 to put heat and air in our station, too," Engel said.
Deputy Chief Tracy Griezmann told the commission Cell Creek Volunteer Fire Department's total request is $914,500, including $55,000 in capital, driven by payroll for part-time drivers, replacement of aging apparatus (some squad trucks about 25 years old) and increased utilities to operate five stations across an 81-square-mile district. Mark Hutchkins (Highway 58) and Chief Chris Morrison (Sequoia Volunteer Fire Department) described similar pressures and station renovation or replacement needs; Morrison estimated a new station project at about $5.3 million to replace a 1985 building lacking sleeping quarters and adequate training space.
CJ Davis, representing the county hazmat team, said the unit is solely county‑funded and needs to replace vehicles and air-monitoring equipment bought with grant money in the mid‑2000s.
Tri Community Chief Dwayne Pittz said requested increases would support payroll, a new station and mutual‑aid readiness; he told the commission volunteer fire and rescue departments save Hamilton County residents an estimated $20 million to $50 million versus a fully paid system.
Separately, county audit staff announced a policy change: the audit office will stop providing day‑to‑day bookkeeping services for volunteer fire departments (QuickBooks entries, bank reconciliations, Form 990 preparation) and propose contracting a third‑party bookkeeping provider while the audit office retains review and internal-control oversight. Audit staff and commissioners framed the change as a response to audit-committee findings and a way to standardize financial practices across volunteer departments.
No formal votes were taken at the hearing; the commission will consider these requests in upcoming budget deliberations.
