Legislation enabling Delaware’s three counties to impose Fire Protection Fee passes the Senate and awaits Governor Carney’s consideration.
DOVER, DE – A bipartisan measure aimed at preserving public safety and easing the financial burdens many Delaware volunteer fire companies are facing passed the Delaware Senate Tuesday afternoon.
House Bill 127 (HB 127) would enable the county governments of Delaware’s three counties to impose a Fire Protection Fee. Currently, multiple fire companies are facing low volunteer numbers and must employ paid Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and firefighters in order to adequately service each company’s community. Medicare and Medicaid are often slow to reimburse ambulance service providers and do not reimburse 100% of the cost required to administer services. Additionally, many fire company leaders have expressed the concern that fundraising campaigns are no longer adequate to meet the growing financial demands.
This has created a monetary strain on fire companies and EMT service providers. To recoup costs to meet payroll and general budgetary necessities, companies are faced with either raising the price of services or cutting services completely.
HB 127 seeks to remedy this by giving each county government the option to impose the fee, which would then be used by the local fire and ambulance services to mitigate cost and employ highly skilled personnel.
Senate Republicans supported the measure and released the following statement after HB 127’s passage.
“Delaware’s volunteer and paid fire and EMT personnel are among the best in the nation. With lower volunteer numbers than what they are historically accustomed to, fire and medical service providers are struggling to meet the increased demand resulting from Delaware’s growing population.
“While the state has worked with the volunteer fire services to help mitigate these issues, more can be done. That is why we supported HB 127, which would give each county the option to impose a separate fee to help ease the financial strain our fire companies are facing. This enabling language recognizes the relationship between volunteer fire companies and local governments, and allows them to work with the communities they serve to determine the best path forward.
“We must do all we can to ensure that the health, safety, and well-being of our constituents are not compromised, and that Delaware’s fire and ambulance service companies are able to continue providing the same level of exceptional service we have enjoyed for generations.”
HB 127 passed both the House and Senate unanimously and now awaits Governor Carney’s consideration.
###