“These volunteers not only sacrifice their time and energy, but they also saved the state taxpayers more of more than $244 million this past fiscal year,” said McGuiness. “Volunteer first responders save lives, and my special report recognizes their value while ensuring transparency to the Delaware taxpayer.”
This year, Delaware’s volunteer fire service is dealing with a pandemic that is posing several challenges for first responders. Volunteer firefighters and emergency personnel face a high likelihood of exposure to the virus, along with the added costs of personal protective equipment.
McGuiness supports efforts to receive additional federal stimulus funds that would aid firefighters by ensuring appropriate supplies, including personal protective equipment.
“In the immediate term, the governor should allocate CARES Act funding to these volunteer companies to ensure their current needs are satisfied. Lawmakers should also create a fund independent of Grant-in-Aid to extend the longevity of the volunteer fire service in Delaware,” McGuiness stated.
Click here to download the report: https://auditor.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2020/11/FINAL-FIRE-FY-2020.pdf
