Board of Supervisors Budget Worksession Part 2

The Nottoway County Board of Supervisors held a budget worksession on March 26, 2026, focusing extensively on funding needs for local fire departments and emergency medical services (EMS). The discussion highlighted the fire departments' request for maintaining their current budget levels with no increases over the past two years, but now seeking additional funds to cover rising costs, including a $1.1 million fire truck with a 50-month delivery timeline. The board considered allocating $150,000 from decal revenue to support the fire departments, with some members proposing a phased funding approach starting with $100,000 this year. The meeting also addressed the integration of radio systems into the county budget, which could reduce fire departments' radio expenses. Staffing challenges and the need for cross-trained firefighter-EMS personnel were emphasized, with projections for increased future funding requirements. Capital improvement plans were discussed, including a 20-year projection with annual needs of approximately $400,000 for apparatus and equipment replacement. EMS funding and billing practices were reviewed, noting a 5% fee for billing services and challenges in revenue collection. The board also discussed potential grant opportunities for equipment purchases, including fire trucks and ambulances, though federal grant programs were currently frozen. Overall, the session focused on balancing budget constraints with the critical operational and capital needs of fire and EMS services, with an emphasis on transparent communication to the public about funding sources and service demands.