Public Safety Committee Meeting - March 9, 2026: EMS Reimbursement Bill and Fire Rescue CIP
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Public Safety Committee Meeting - March 9, 2026: EMS Reimbursement Bill and Fire Rescue CIP
The Montgomery County Council's Public Safety Committee met on March 9, 2026, from 1:45 p.m. to 2:21 p.m. to consider two items: Expedited Bill 6-26, which clarifies the use of revenues from the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) insurance reimbursement program, and the FY27-32 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for the Fire and Rescue Service. The committee unanimously recommended enactment of the bill and approved the CIP as submitted.
Expedited Bill 6-26 – Fire and Rescue Services – EMS Insurance Reimbursement Program – Use of Revenues
- Background: Since 2013, the county council authorized Fire and Rescue to seek reimbursement for ambulance transports from private insurers, Medicare, and Medicaid. Revenues support equipment, training, and volunteer departments (LFRDs) without additional taxes. A 2025 Inspector General report found the actual disbursement method (via contracts with MCVFRA) inconsistent with the county code as written. This bill corrects the code to match current practice.
- Key provisions: The bill allows the annual operating budget to authorize distribution of EMS transport revenues to either MCVFRA or individual LFRDs for specified purposes: apparatus, facilities, training, gear, administrative support, recruitment/retention, and volunteer standby support. The county executive may enter contracts to effectuate distributions.
- Public Comment: Russell Hartung, President of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Rescue Association (MCVFRA), expressed support for the bill. He initially submitted a suggested wording change but withdrew it after legal counsel advised it would complicate the bill.
- Committee Discussion: All three committee members were lead sponsors; all councilmembers were co-sponsors. The bill is described as purely housekeeping—clarifying longstanding practice with no substantive change. Impact statements showed no fiscal or operational impact.
- Vote: Unanimous (3-0) recommendation to enact the bill. Council action tentatively scheduled for March 17, 2026.
FY27-32 Capital Improvements Program – Public Safety – Fire and Rescue Service
- Overview: The recommended CIP includes 10 active projects totaling $157 million over six years, a $23 million (17.2%) increase from the previous amended CIP of $134 million. Increases are primarily due to the new self-contained breathing apparatus replacement project and cost escalations in apparatus replacement, HVAC/electrical upgrades, and the White Flint fire station.
Apparatus Replacement Program
- Plans include replacing 6 aerials, 40 EMS units, 15 engines, 3 brush/all-wheel-drive vehicles, 3 rescue squad/hazmat units, 3 tankers, and one hazmat support vehicle over six years. Funded with short-term financing and EMS transport revenues.
- Adequacy concerns: The department replaces ambulances at a rate of 6 per year, but analysis shows 9 per year are needed to maintain appropriate fleet age. Local fire and rescue departments supplement with their own purchases. Industry consolidation (three manufacturers control 70-80% of market) has led to 2-3 year order backlogs and cost increases (e.g., fire engines from ~$400k to over $1 million). The committee discussed whether the EMS replacement schedule is adequate and whether alternative apparatus models (e.g., paramedic chase cars) are being considered. Division Chief Bailey confirmed the department is evaluating alternatives but no firm conclusions yet. Committee members expressed interest in revisiting the issue in fall 2026.
- Vote: Approved as submitted (3-0).
Breathing Air Compressors Replacement
- Project to replace compressor systems for self-contained breathing apparatus at multiple stations. Completed at 4 stations in FY25, 2 in FY26; 3 stations scheduled for FY27, 3 for FY28. Total cost remains ~$1 million, completion expected by FY28. Approved 3-0.
Rockville Fire Station 3 Renovation
- Station built in 1965. The project, in the CIP since 2001, now includes exploring alternative sites for a new station rather than renovation. Funding ($4.35 million total) pushed to FY28 due to ongoing delays in site selection by Rockville Volunteer Fire Department (RVFD). A potential former MCPS site was mentioned but not available. The county continues to maintain the station: a $397,000 HVAC replacement is in design, and roof replacement is scheduled for FY27. Director Dise noted that even if a site is found, construction would take 7-10 years, so maintaining the existing building is essential. Committee member Katz observed the need for a decision to either renovate or commit to a new site. The project remains in the CIP with no recommendation to change.
- Vote: Approved as submitted (3-0) with acknowledgment of the ongoing challenge.
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Replacement (New Project)
- Acquisition of approximately 2,000 face pieces (443 with radio interface, 1,500 without), 1,000 air packs and cylinders. Current face pieces purchased in 2014 exceed 10-year warranty; warranty expires December 2026, after which maintenance costs could exceed $500,000 per year. All costs programmed in FY27. Approved 3-0.
White Flint Fire Station
- New five-bay station in the Rockville/White Flint area, including associated apparatus. Total project cost $52 million, up $2.7 million due to land acquisition for affordable housing and construction escalation. Design began October 2023, expected completion winter 2026; construction FY27-FY29. Approved 3-0.
Level of Effort Projects (All Approved 3-0)
- Locker/Shower/Restroom Upgrades: Work completed at Station 8; Silver Spring Station 16 planned for FY30. Cost decrease due to transfer of savings to Sixth District Police Station.
- Fire Station Life Safety Systems: Fire alarm system replacements at Kensington Station 21, Hillendale 12, Silver Spring 16. Cost increase from adding FY31-32.
- HVAC and Electrical Replacement: Upgrades at Hillendale 24, Travilla 32, Rockville 23 (HVAC design ongoing, construction March 2027); Bethesda 20 construction complete June 2026. Total $3.34 million for Bethesda.
- Resurfacing: Bethesda 26 and Laytonsville 17 in FY27; Damascus 13 and Silver Spring 16 in FY28. Costs increased to add FY31-32.
- Roof Replacement: Gaithersburg 8 spring 2026; Bethesda 26 FY27; Hyattstown 9, Rockville 3, Silver Spring 16 FY28. Costs increased for FY31-32.
Key Outcomes
- Expedited Bill 6-26: Unanimous committee recommendation to enact as introduced. Final council action tentatively scheduled for March 17, 2026.
- FY27-32 Fire Rescue CIP: Unanimous committee recommendation to approve as submitted by the County Executive.
- Ongoing oversight: The committee plans to revisit the adequacy of the EMS apparatus replacement schedule and broader fleet resilience in fall 2026, considering industry backlogs and cost pressures.
Meeting Transcript
Well, good afternoon and welcome everyone to the Public Safety Committee work session of Monday, March 9th, 2026. Today we uh have two topics on the agenda. The first one is an expedited bill 626, fire and rescue services, emergency management, emergency medical services, insurance reimbursement program, use of revenues. The second is an FY27 through 32 capital improvement program of the Public Safety Fire and Rescue Service. As we begin, I'd like to thank Ms. Wellins and Ms. Farog for preparing the staff reports for today's topics, and once again and always assembling most informative packets for us. And unless the other committee members have anything to say, I'd like to invite the first panel to please come forward if there is a panel. Do we have a panel for this one? Well, then it won't take long for the panel to introduce themselves. Russell, you want to come forward. Um and I'm going to ask them to please introduce themselves and then Ms. Wellens, if she will walk us through the uh discussion. But if anybody has any opening statements from the panel, we'd like to hear that at this time as well. So if you all could Russell, could you please introduce yourself? Yeah. Yes, I'm Russell Hartung. I'm the president of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Rescue Association. I'm Dominic Del Pozo, I'm the Fiscal Management Division Chief for Fire and Rescue. Very good. Well, as we begin as we begin, I do want to certainly thank the all firefighters, career and volunteer, for everything you do in keeping us safe each and every day. And with that, Ms. Wellens. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Council Members. Good afternoon. Your item before you, uh, the first item is expedited bill 626, Fire and Rescue Services, Emergency Medical Services Insurance Reimbursement Program, use of revenues, as the chair stated. Um it was introduced on February 3rd, 2026, and a public hearing occurred on February 24th. To give you a little bit of context, the background for this bill is that uh beginning in 2013, uh, the county council, through a couple of pieces of legislation, authorized the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services to seek reimbursement for ambulance transports from private health insurance companies, Medicare, or Medicaid. Uh, the generated revenues are used to provide equipment, enhancement, and training for MCFRS, as well as the volunteer local fire and rescue departments, referred to as LFRDs, uh, without any additional costs or increased taxes for the tax for the county residents. Um of the net EMST revenues are allocated annually through the council operating budget resolution to support the LFRDs. And historically, what the county has done has been to uh the executive branch has the the council has specified the disbursement via the budget resolution, and then the county executive has entered into contracts uh with the authorized representative for the LFRD's um MCV FRA has entered into contracts with the with that entity regarding the disbursement of funds for the benefit of the LFRDs. Um in 2025, however, uh we received a report from the Office of the Inspector General indicating that the method of disbursement via the contract wasn't the way that it was being done. Uh wasn't, in the opinion of the Inspector General, consistent with the provisions of the county code as written. And so the purpose of this bill, it's really a corrective bill. It's in order to um clarify how this allocation and disbursement disbursements happen. Um, and to make sure that the steps that the council and executive are taking to you know effectuate the transfers are that the that the code provisions are consistent with what is actually happening. Um and in order to do that, what the bill does, it it provides that the annual operating budget uh may require or authorize the distribution of the uh EMST revenues for enumerated purposes to either or both the authorized LFRD representative meaning MS MCV FRA and individual local fire and rescue departments. Um the executive would expressly be permitted to enter into one or more contracts on behalf of the county to effectuate the distribution of the funds in accordance with the operating budget. And then importantly, the funds could be used for the following specific purposes. Apparatus for LFRDs, facilities for LFRDs, training for volunteers, gear and equipment for volunteers, administrative support, volunteer recruitment and retention, and volunteer standby support in terms of the impact statements. There was no impact noted, kind of across the board. And then in terms of public testimony, we saw we heard from uh Mr. Harton, the president of MCV FRA in support of the bill. And I don't have any potential amendments or other outstanding issues to note for the committee. Thank you. I think it should be noted that this committee, all three of us were the lead sponsors. So, and that all of our uh colleagues are co-sponsors. So obviously everybody wants to get this straightened out as quickly as we can, and and uh uh and I think it if it's as as much excitement as this caused, and it did cause a little excitement, as much excitement as this caused.
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