By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer

Begun in 2018, the Kennett Fire & EMS Regional Commission (KFERC) is an inter-municipal fire and emergency services collaborative effort that has provided the operational and financial steerage for the Longwood Fire Company No. 25, the Kennett Fire Company No. 1 and the Po Mar Lin fire companies in six municipalities -- East Marlborough, Kennett, Kennett Borough, Newlin, Pennsbury and Pocopson.  

Five of those municipalities remain; Kennett Borough left the KFERC earlier this year. 

Since that time, like nearly every other fire and EMS collaborative entity across the U.S., the KFERC has had to adjust its budgets against the hard realities facing the fire and emergency services industries – the rising costs of equipment, the additional expenses for each individual response and the shrinking number of fire and EMS volunteers.  

It was against these hard realities that a $1.25 million budget for 2025 – including a $907,000 increase for the three fire and EMS units – was proposed at an Aug. 22 meeting held at the Kennett Township Building.

Longwood Fire Company Chief and Commission member AJ McCarthy said that the budget reflects $500,000 increase in capital expenses and an additional $407,000 in increased operating costs that will include $50,000 for a driver at the Po Mar Lin Fire Company on nights and weekends; $50,000 on building rust mitigation; and the remainder in payroll expenses.

The $1.25 million proposal for 2025 is less than the $1.3 million budget increase for 2024.

The overall budget for the KFERC also includes a long-term capital plan – adjusted for inflation -- that proposes an additional $1.8 million annually to fund the cost of new vehicles and equipment over the next five to 15 years; $1.9 million annually for years 20-30; and $2.2 million annually after 30 years – for the entire regional force. 

In order to help fund the capital equipment needs for the three companies, Kennett Township Director of Finance and Human Resources Amy Heinrich recommended that the KFERC increase its capital contribution to $1.25 million in 2025 that will help to pay for vital fire and EMS equipment, and to increase that yearly payment by $250,000 increments every year thereafter for 4 more years. The KFERC has contributed $750,000 in 2024.

Heinrich said that between 2028 and 2031, Longwood, Kennett and Po Mar Lin will need to make the following changes to their capital needs: the purchase of a new tractor-drawn aerial, engine tanker and tower; the rehabilitation of a fire engine and two tankers; the addition of a new ambulance and the replacement of two ambulances; and the replacement of 10 support vehicles over that time period. In addition, she said there is a large list of other items that will need to be ordered, replaced and upgraded that will include hoses, nozzles and fire equipment gear.

‘That’s the reality’

KFERC member Ray McKay, a committee member of Pocopson Township illuminated the growing need for the three companies to upgrade their capital needs against the reality of the industry.

“The price increases [for capital needs] have been astronomical, and the time element [for the arrival of equipment] is astronomical and the requirements to replace these vehicles is not something that we have a lot of control over,” he said. “The vehicles – particularly the ambulances – just wear out because of the use they’re getting, and the call volumes are huge compared to what they once were.

“When we proposed $1 million, we thought we were on the right track, and we only got a vote for $750,000 in 2024. Obviously, we’re going to have to increase it to beyond $1 million, but that’s not going to do it over time. Prices are not going down. They are going to continue to go up, and we have no control over that. You can have all the opinions you want, but that’s the reality.”

Heinrich said that another key factor in rolling out these increased budgets has been keeping the public informed, because, ultimately, the future costs of fire and EMS services will come out of their taxes.
“We’re educating our communities on where we are and what’s been going on and on why everything is so expensive,” she said. “We really want people to know that this is a big issue – so that it’s not as much of a surprise because we know that it translates into tax increases. There’s not really a choice.”

Kennett Square Borough?

One of the most perplexing issues facing the KFERC is to determine its 2025 budget based on the allocation percentage it will charge each participating township for fire and EMS services. It is a numbers game made more challenging given that Kennett Square Borough – who now contracts fire and EMS services independent of the KFERC – has not yet informed Longwood Fire Company officials whether they will contract with them in 2025. 

“We have not had received any comments from them since the end of last year when they told us that they were leaving the Commission,” said KREC Chairman Cuyler Walker, an East Marlborough Township representative. 

Subsequently, the preliminary allocation percentage fees and per household tax -- which is based on a township’s population, assessed value, fire and rescue responses, and EMS responses – will be determined based on whether or not the Borough will rejoin the KFERC:

With Kennett Borough participation

Kennett 30.5%

East Marlborough 25.4%

Kennett Borough 15.9%

Pocopson 13.3%

Pennsbury 12.5%

Newlin 2.4%

Without Kennett Borough participation

Kennett 36.3%

East Marlborough 30.2%

Pocopson 15.9%

Pennsbury 14.8%

Newlin 2.8%

“I am not sure if we’re going to protect Kennett Square Borough because Kennett Square Borough hasn’t asked me to do that again,” McCarthy said. “We have a contract and there is a timeline for when we’re supposed to meet. We’re coming up on that timeline and I am aware that they have spoken to other service providers.

“Losing Kennett Square Borough [from the KFREC] doesn’t change funding on the administrative portions of the fire department or its fire rescue division, and if they decide to go their own route, those are costs that the fire departments are going to have to shoulder again and figure out how they come up with that portion of revenue.” 

McCarthy said that the sooner he receives a decision from Kennett Square Borough – as well as input from other municipalities -- the more quickly the KFREC can finalize percentage allocations and allow McCarthy to facilitate the operating and capital expenses he outlined at the Aug. 22 meeting. East Marlborough Township Supervisor John Auger said that he needs additional time to discuss the proposed increases with his fellow supervisors.

“From the pure aspect of planning, this is not a business that shuts down at 4 p.m. and we come back on Monday,” McCarthy told Auger. “I need to be able to plan what I am doing staffing wise, and whether I am shutting down a truck that potentially involves laying people off.” 

“There’s not an ideal answer [to finalizing the budget] when not everyone is at the table to do that,” said board member Richard Leff, a Kennett Township supervisor. “That’s the challenge. There is a lot of information to digest. It’s just that we’re trying to balance the individual needs of the Commission with those of the fire companies and each municipality.”

The KFREC will next meet on Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. at the Kennett Township Building, at which they will provide additional information and render possible votes on the proposed 2025 budget.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].