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By TODD FORTUNE \
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
The Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors held a work session Monday night to go over the FY 2000 county budget. A number of different areas were discussed, but the proposed fire and rescue budget drew the most attention.
All five members were present at the meeting, as was County Administrator John McCarthy and Clerk Diane Bruce. The supervisors heard from four individuals.
Fire and rescue
First to address the board was “Buck” Payne, representing the county Fire and Rescue Association. Payne pointed out that the proposed fire and rescue budget contains a 12.6 percent increase from the current fiscal year. The proposed association budget is $162,450 and the total requested fire and rescue budget is $358,450.
Payne was quick to point out that the bulk of this increase is for research and cost analysis of a recruitment and retention program. They are looking at possibly implementing a program that would be similar to Fauquier County’s Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP).
Under this program, volunteer fire and rescue personnel could accumulate points for meeting attendance, running calls, and other duties associated with being a member of a fire company. Once a certain number of points is reached, members will be eligible for benefits such as free vehicle decals.
Members would also be eligible for a small retirement payment after completing a certain length of tenure, to be set by the association. It would be drawn when the member reaches a certain age, which would also be set by the association.
Payne would like to come back at a later date and submit a cost analysis to the Board of Supervisors. The intent is to provide incentive for members to join volunteer fire and rescue departments, and stay involved. Supervisor Mike Massie pointed out that the same argument was used for creating the Fire Levy Board.
He also feels that the Fire Levy Board hasn’t helped to recruit and retain members. Furthermore, he is
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