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Commissioners set fiscal‑year policy to accelerate VFD first‑quarter funding after months‑long contract dispute
Summary
Following public comment by volunteer fire departments and a prolonged internal debate, the court adopted a fiscal‑year‑limited order to fund VFDs so the first-quarter allocation reaches 40% (moving some payments to next claims) to help departments cover upfront insurance and operating obligations.
After extended public comment and a lengthy discussion Jan. 27, the Kendall County Commissioners Court adopted a policy — limited to fiscal year 2026 — to adjust how volunteer fire departments (VFDs) are funded so those departments receive 40% of their allocation in the first quarter, with the remaining funds distributed as 20% quarterly thereafter.
Len White, a representative of the Cicadale Volunteer Fire Department and a resident of Precinct 4, told the court the VFDs had been presented with a new agreement only weeks earlier and requested a return to the prior funding approach, asserting the 40% front‑loading addresses insurance and other upfront costs. White said the VFDs had “over 10,000 hours” of volunteer training and asked that the court start negotiations from the prior agreement if state‑required language must be inserted.
Commissioners and staff debated whether the county was operating under the old contracts, the newly drafted contracts, or an interim practice, and whether adopting a policy now would bind future courts. General counsel advised that the court could adopt an order for the current fiscal year only; the county auditor explained the mechanics of quarterly allocations and claims processing. The court agreed that, because a 25% payment had been issued earlier in the quarter, the county would authorize payment on next week’s claims to bring departments to the 40% level (effectively funding the remaining 35% required to reach the first‑quarter 40% under prior contracts).
The motion, amended to apply only to FY2026, passed 5–0. County staff were directed to put the necessary claims on the next accounts-payable list and to continue contract negotiations with VFDs. General counsel said counties and VFDs could still negotiate contract language in the coming weeks and that an agenda item could be prepared for the next meeting if further action is needed.
Commissioners framed the vote as an attempt to ensure VFDs can pay critical bills (notably insurance premiums) while staff and legal counsel continue to reconcile the language in new contracts with the departments’ concerns.
