When the Albemarle Board of Supervisors adopted a budget for fiscal year 2026, the elected officials agreed to a four cent increase in the real property tax rate in order to provide a dedicated revenue-stream to cover the growing cost of public safety personnel.
For years, Albemarle has been seeking funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s “Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response” program to cover the initial costs of hiring firefighters.
However, localities who use SAFER funding must gradually pick up the full cost. That will be the case for the latest award of $1.03 million to pay for six additional firefighters announced by the county on October 19.
“Previous awards have helped establish daytime engine staffing in Crozet and North Garden, expand coverage at rural stations, transition North Garden to 24/7 operations, and fund additional personnel for the ladder company at [Albemarle County Fire Rescue’s] Station 11,” reads the release.
“This grant allows us to address staffing needs, reduce mandatory overtime, and continue providing professional and consistent services to the residents of Albemarle County,” said Albemarle Fire Rescue Chief David Puckett.
The release does not specifically state where the new employed would be stationed but said the positions would go to qualified candidates who go through through the county’s academy for recruits.
Previous coverage:
- Albemarle Fire Rescue staff has begun staffing North Garden, November 25, 2022
- Albemarle receives $7.1 million in federal funding to hire 30 firefighters, September 7, 2023
- Richardson proposes four cent real estate tax increase for Albemarle’s FY26 budget with most of that revenue going to cover fire and EMS personnel, February 27, 2025
- Albemarle’s police chief and fire chief explain why they need additional funds, March 21, 2025
- Report details how Albemarle will slowly pick up cost of new firefighters, June 3, 2025
- Six graduate from Albemarle’s in-house paramedic program, April 21, 2026
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