Fire, rescue agencies ask Montgomery County for recurring increases and equipment funding in FY2027 requests

Representatives from county fire and rescue agencies presented their FY2027 budget requests and explained cost drivers that prompted additional funding requests.

Christiansburg requested a recurring $75,000 allocation aimed at recruiting and additional wage staffing and a one-time $8,000 purchase to replace a heavy trailer with a lighter aluminum trailer to support county UTV operations. Blacksburg cited rising equipment, turnout gear and maintenance costs — including a reported 25% increase in some supplies — and requested a recurring increase (representative noted a $75,000 recruiting request similar to Christiansburg). Special Operations asked for a $40,000 recurring increase for equipment replacement plus a $10,000 one-time request for dive and communications gear.

Commission staff reminded members the commission has roughly $8,345 remaining in its bank to allocate; anything above that would be forwarded to the board as an additional county request. Commissioners discussed the county's broader fiscal outlook — staff said projected additional revenue growth for the coming budget is substantially lower than prior years and that many county departments have submitted larger asks — and asked agencies for more detailed, itemized breakdowns of their requests to aid prioritization.

After discussion, a motion to submit the commission's consolidated budget request to the board was made and approved by voice vote. Staff said audit results and additional financial analysis due in the coming month will help refine recommendations before the board reviews the package.

No specific line-item approvals were made at the commission level beyond the motion to forward requests; the commission asked departments to provide more detailed budgets and utilization figures for follow-up review.