As first reported to the Board via Board Communication in January 2019 and as reported in the mid-year financial report, Fire/Rescue’s overtime costs are projected to exceed the approved budget by $1.5 million.  This overrun is attributed to:

• The reassignment last March of existing staff to provide ALS staffing in all stations and to supplement reduced staffing capabilities of Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department;

• The provision of County-wide 24/7 ALS and fire coverage with existing staff while the full complement of 21 positions added for the purpose of providing the expanded coverage were/are training in the academy; and

• Continued turnover of staff and significant increases to the staffing difficulties of both Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department and Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad.

A budget adjustment was approved by the Board at the April 9, 2019 Board meeting to budget grant revenue for firefighter/medic costs, freeing $272,624 in local funding for reallocation to cover a portion of the overtime overrun.  

As reported in the mid-year financial report, it is projected that real estate revenue will exceed budgeted projections by $2.0 million in FY 2019.  To cover the balance of the currently projected overtime overrun, Finance staff proposes the attached budget adjustment which uses the increase in projected real estate revenue to increase the overtime budget and appropriation by $1,183,951.