01-05-2025
Fayette County fire budgets discussed at meeting of county commission
FAYETTEVILLE, WV (WVNS) – Members of the community and fire service personnel packed the house at a Wednesday meeting of the Fayette County Commission where commissioners addressed budgets for county fire departments.
Recently announced cuts to the Fayette County Fire Levy budget have sparked local debate, with the Fayette County Firefighter's Association asserting that plans to cut nearly half of fire department levy funding creates an unprecedented danger to the community.
While individual department budgets were touched on at points during the meeting, little was said specifically to address overall cuts to the Fire Levy budget itself, which Fayette County Commission President John Breneman says will still remain in effect.
Local fire service members said they are frustrated and feel that their concerns are not being addressed by commission members in a meaningful way.'We try having a dialogue with them to try to see what these departments need,' said Fayette County Firefighters Association Vice President, Joshua Davis. 'It's really hard to get a dialogue started with them – a seat at the table to try to talk this out.'
Despite these frustrations from fire personnel, Brenemen told 59News everyone was given a platform to make their voices heard.
'We gave them an opportunity to ask questions – very few questions were asked,' he said. 'I think that we met the concerns that they had.'
Fayette County Fire Departments will continue to utilize funding from the previous levy balance over the next three years.
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