State must find funding for fire, ambulance service
HARRISBURG – About $25 million in state grants toward volunteer fire departments and ambulance services have yet to be restored, despite promises by the governor and legislative leaders that the funding is a high priority. The grant program is the largest single source of state funds for volunteer fire companies and ambulance squads, but was effectively cut earlier this summer when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled against its placement in the gambling legislation.
A portion of gambling proceeds was to fund the program, but now lawmakers and the governor have to go back to finding room for it in tight state budgets.
This week, Gov. Ed Rendell announced he’d like to see the grant program funded this year, but he made no suggestions on where the money would come from.
“We will talk to the Legislature to find out what those options would be, but the governor is committed to keeping the program,” said Rendell’s spokesman Abe Amoros. “We understand that this is really their primary source of funding and how difficult it is to raise money in their communities.”
A spokesman for House Majority Leader Sam Smith, R-66 (Jefferson), said the House Republicans are supportive of the grant program, too.
But he criticized how the governor has handled the issue, insisting that it be part of the gambling legislation, even when gambling revenues would not be forthcoming this year, and then ignoring its inclusion in the recently approved 2005-2006 spending plan.
“We’ve been fighting for this,” said Smith’s spokesman Steve Miskin. “Now that the governor at least says he supports it, that can’t be a bad thing.”
Miskin said there would be no fee increases to cover the grant program, but could also not speculate on where $25 million would come from in the state budget.
Amoros said one of the items that will be discussed is a recent report by the Joint Legislative and Budget Finance Committee, which encourages regionalizing the state’s 2,448 fire companies to avoid a duplication in services and equipment.
Alison Hawkes can be reached at 717-705-6330 or ahawkes@calkins-media.com