Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett plans to wipe out funding for the county’s 2,000-strong volunteer firefighters association in his fiscal 2012 budget, in a move some say is retribution for the association’s opposition to Leggett’s failed ambulance fee. Leggett cut $325,540 in funding from the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, including $90,540 in annual payments to the otherwise uncompensated volunteers.
“These cuts would eliminate our entire existence,” said Eric Bernard, executive director of the volunteer association. “We are disappointed that the county executive would continue this retribution against the association and what we believe was his number one [legislative] priority: ambulance fees.”
Leggett proposed raising $14 million by charging a fee for riding in county ambulances last year to help fill Montgomery’s ongoing budget shortfalls, which the volunteer firefighters fought and paid firefighters supported. Residents voted against the fees in the November election.
The association mainly recruits new firefighters. The cuts would not directly affect emergency fire and rescue services, Bernard said.
Leggett insists his proposed cuts to the volunteer firefighters are not a form of payback, but rather a needed cutback.
The executive’s budget proposal includes $122,100 for boots, gear bags and basic orientation costs for new volunteers.
Bernard said he agreed to cut those items from his budget request to maintain operations.
“Whatever we wanted, he did the opposite,” Bernard said.
Leggett’s cuts challenge an independent arbiter’s decision that the association provides a vital service in the county necessitating continued funding.
Councilman Phil Andrews, D-Rockville/Gaithersburg, called Leggett’s decision “shortsighted” and “foolish.”
“It’s hard not to see that as retribution for the firefighter association’s opposition to the ambulance fee,” Andrews said. – Hayley Peterson
