KY Volunteer Departments Reevaluate Funding Options

As population and calls for service increase, Warren County fire department are reevaluating funding options to meet future needs.

Warren county has seen a significant population increase in recent years raising calls for service that are challenging the nine departments within the county.

Bob Skipper, Chief of the Woodburn Volunteer Fire Department said, “We need to have a plan in place on exactly what we’re going to do,” WBKO reported.

The departments are looking at how to properly fund and add resources to match the growth.

The primary revenue stream for the departments is an annual fee of $50 for a residential property and $70 for a business.

Chief Skipper told WBKO they need to bring in stakeholders, the county, and the citizens to brainstorm their next steps.

Skipper said it’s important to have input from the county and citizens of what is realistic to meet the growing needs of the departments.

The current operating budget for nine departments handling 4,000 calls for service per year is less than $2 million.