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VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICES UNDER STRESS - Emergency Workers First Line Of Help |
| (10/31/2008) |
| PASSAGE OF LEVY VITAL TO CONTINUED SERVICE By Bob Weaver A West Virginia legislature interim committee has declined to propose solutions for the state's cash-strapped volunteer fire departments, whose volunteer numbers are dwindling in the Mountain State. The committee had been asked to give firefighters a state tax break. Calhoun's firemen and emergency medical personnel are the first line of help for a multitude of problems in the rural county. Tom Searls, a Charleston Gazette reporter, wrote before he died, "There was a time when West Virginia teens hung around the local firehouse socializing, while receiving training and developing friendships that would continue through years of being volunteer firefighters in their rural communities." Those days are over with training requirements and financial drains on volunteers, to show up 24/7. Calhoun's Emergency Services Levy, on the ballot for a 5-year-renewal this November, is about all that is financially keeping the three local fire departments afloat. There have been times that county voters failed to approve the levy, which also funds the local ambulance service. It requires 60% approval. In those times the levy was defeated, it was granted a special election, after which the measure narrowly passed. A recent legislative interim committee has asked lobbyists for counties and county commissions to survey the funding mechanism for volunteer departments across the state. Doug Mongold, president of the state Firefighters Association, said "We would like to look at the length-of-service plan." That plan would compensate volunteer firefighters with 20 years or more of service some amount like $200 a month. The poorer, cash-strapped counties will likely have a difficult time coming up with volunteer compensation. Mongold said he would like to see the state, or someone, take over the quickly rising cost of workers' compensation insurance. Privatization of that insurance began July 1, causing volunteer fire departments to see their rates soar upward.
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