AGENDA DATE: 7/12/2017
TITLE:
Title
Volunteer Fire Rescue Funding Policy
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt the attached volunteer funding policy as County policy.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Walker, Letteri, Kamptner, Eggleston, Allshouse, LaBelle, Mezzoni, Bowman,
PRESENTER (S): Dan Eggleston
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Douglas C. Walker
BACKGROUND: The current Albemarle County Fire Rescue (ACFR) volunteer funding policy (Attachment A) was adopted by the Board of Supervisors in February 2006 and revised in September 2010. Under the current policy, the County provides: annual funding for basic operating costs; case-by-case consideration for funding for one-time costs; case-by-case consideration for funding for capital expenses for volunteer buildings; and the purchase of emergency response vehicles according to the approved System Fleet Plan (Attachment B) and County Capital Improvement Plan.
ACFR staff has worked with the FEMS Board over several years to make a number of changes that save costs using contract rates and to relieve volunteers the concern of budgeting for volatile costs. In FY 16 ACFR consolidated the purchase of fuel for volunteer stations through the installation of fuel tanks, saving money and time for volunteers. In FY 18, ACFR hired a fleet maintenance supervisor and consolidated the maintenance and repair of fleet, relieving volunteer agencies of an additional burden that is both financial and administrative.
During the preparation of the FY 18 budget, ACFR and OMB staff recognized the need to review and suggest possible changes to the volunteer funding policy. At its May 27 work session, the FEMS Board discussed various ideas on changes to the annual process. A memo (Attachment C) summarizing the discussions and decisions during that work session was given to FEMS on June 28.
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