The labor force is essential for continued growth and success within The Commonwealth. Worker's should be appropriately compensated with fair wages, accessible/affordable health care, safe work spaces, and financial security for their retirement. Please vote for legislation to help support hard working Virginians.

Dear Honorable Members of the Labor and Commerce Subcommittee, I am writing to you as a member of the Governor’s Fire Services Board and a staunch advocate for the fire service in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Over the course of numerous Fire and EMS studies conducted across Virginia, I have witnessed firsthand the severe financial hardships faced by fire departments, particularly those reliant on volunteers. These challenges not only hinder their ability to operate effectively but also pose a significant risk to public safety. The Commonwealth of Virginia’s fire service, as documented in the United States Fire Administration’s 2024 National Fire Department Registry Summary, consists of 556 registered fire departments. These departments are predominantly volunteer-based, with 70.7% being fully volunteer, 16.9% mostly volunteer, 5.4% mostly career, and only 7.0% fully career. Despite the critical role these volunteer departments play, the current allocation of Aid to Localities (ATL) funding is inequitable and insufficient to meet their needs. The ATL distribution system, which allocates funds based primarily on population, disproportionately benefits jurisdictions with larger tax bases while leaving smaller, predominantly volunteer departments severely underfunded. For example, in FY 2025, Fairfax County is eligible to receive $5,666,249, and Virginia Beach $2,354,749, while smaller towns receive a minimum of $4,000 and counties no less than $10,000, per Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) policy. While this ensures a baseline, it is far from sufficient to address the actual costs faced by these departments. To illustrate: Basic personal protective firefighting gear ranges from $3,000 to $10,000 per set and must be replaced every 10 years. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) systems cost $3,000 to $5,000 each. A new fire engine can range from $800,000 to $1,200,000. The reliance on bake sales, Brunswick stew events, and raffles to fund such critical needs is no longer sustainable. During the 2024 Virginia State Firefighters Association meetings, the urgency of this funding crisis was emphasized. When I asked members when we should sound the alarm that the Commonwealth is in an emergency situation regarding the volunteer fire service, the unanimous response was, “Now!” The National Volunteer Fire Council highlights that departments are struggling to recruit and retain members due to increased demands on time, training requirements, and societal changes, such as the prevalence of two-income households. Without significant investment in recruitment and retention incentives for the volunteer fire service, the Commonwealth will face the monumental challenge of replacing 70.7% of its firefighting workforce with paid personnel—an outcome that would impose substantial financial burdens on local governments and taxpayers. I respectfully urge the subcommittee to take immediate action to increase ATL funding and revamp the current distribution system to ensure equitable and adequate support for all fire departments, especially those serving rural and volunteer-reliant communities. Addressing this issue now will help avert a crisis and ensure the safety and resilience of our communities. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I am available to discuss this issue further and provide additional insights based on my experiences. Sincerely, Dr. James Alan Calvert