King William County allocates more than a half-million dollars to volunteer fire organizations each year, but county officials say they have little, if any, oversight.
The county has budgeted $1.43 million for fire and emergency services for the fiscal year that started July 1, according to the county’s adopted budget.
Overall, funding is up nearly $20,000, but the amount of money the county gives volunteer departments has decreased since last year by almost $220,000, according to the budget.
Last year, just more than half of fire and EMS funding, $754,205, went to volunteer departments. This year, just more than a third is going to the volunteer firefighters, $524,956, according to the budget. Part of that decrease comes after the county bought out the King William County Volunteer Fire Department earlier this year. The department now operates with paid staff.