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EMA budget review: grant timing, tower lease costs and shortfall risk
Summary
Lincoln County's Emergency Management Agency reported a small current shortfall, delayed EMPG grant timing, and lingering radio-tower lease costs that will affect revenue until contracts are resolved; the agency plans follow-up with partners including the Lore Foundation.
During the Lincoln County budget review on 2026-06-29, the Emergency Management Agency director outlined small near-term revenue shortfalls, contract and lease complications related to radio-trunking, and delays in Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funding.
The EMA Director said the department is working through a roughly $7,000'$8,000 shortfall in the near term but has enough in reserves to operate under current contracts for about a year and a half. He described a long-standing lease relationship with a trunking provider that has produced annual cost disparities; the county expects revenue to return once providers rent space from the county instead of the county renting trunking services.
On grant funding, the director said the EMPG application cycle has been delayed and that FEMA's timing changes and litigation have shifted start dates. "They haven't even started that yet because FEMA doesn't know what they're doing," the EMA Director said in describing the delay. He noted last year's EMPG award was about $25,500 and said the program's reimbursement rules have recently narrowed to cover fewer expense types.
The director also mentioned an upcoming meeting with the Lore Foundation to discuss potential reimbursement or support. Board members did not take a formal vote during the EMA presentation; the director will return with updated revenue and grant information as available.
