Somerset County Approves Stipends For Volunteer Firefighters

With volunteer fire ranks shrinking and costs climbing, Somerset County commissioners have signed off on a new benefits package that puts real money on the table. The plan includes a $1,200 yearly stipend for eligible volunteers and a retirement benefit designed to reward long, steady service. County leaders say it is a first step, with possible future incentives that could include tax credits and workers' compensation coverage.

What the board approved

At a Feb. 26 meeting, commissioners voted to create the $1,200 annual benefit for qualifying members of volunteer companies and to authorize a retirement plan that would kick in after years of service. The goal, they said, is to slow the loss of longtime volunteers and give recruits a reason to stick around.

As reported by The Baltimore Sun, Board President Charles Laird tried to reassure the volunteers in the room, telling them, "You will not be overtaken by the paid … that's not going to happen," while Commissioner John Barnette, underscoring how big a shift this is for Somerset, called the move "unprecedented."

Volunteers pressed for help

Volunteer fire leaders have been warning for months that they are trying to do more with less. Aging trucks, pricier safety gear, and mounting operating bills are making it harder to attract and keep members, and the pool of available volunteers is thinning.

WBOC reported that association representatives asked commissioners to double the county's annual allotment to local fire companies and floated a property-tax break modeled on programs in neighboring jurisdictions.

Budget and EMS overhaul

All of this is unfolding as Somerset reshapes how it pays for emergency response. The proposed fiscal 2026 budget directs roughly $7 million to emergency services, which includes building out a county-run EMS division.

According to WMDT, that division was created after the county assumed ambulance operations in Princess Anne last year, shifting a major piece of the emergency workload under county control.

How other counties compensate volunteers

Commissioners pointed to neighboring counties that already offer more robust benefit packages for their volunteers. Worcester County provides length-of-service and retention payments as well as death benefits. Wicomico County offers a tiered property-tax credit for volunteer emergency responders.

As detailed by The Baltimore Sun, Worcester's lineup includes sizable lump-sum payouts and death benefits, while Wicomico's property-tax credit climbs from $1,500 to $2,500 over several years of qualifying service.

What comes next

Somerset officials say the details are far from finished. Commissioners plan to work with local fire companies on eligibility rules and how to pay for the new perks, and they have promised follow-up meetings scheduled when volunteers can actually be in the room.

WBOC reports that fire service leaders want monthly evening sessions as the package is hammered out. At the same time, state lawmakers have floated legislation that would allow counties to levy emergency-services property taxes to help cover expanding programs, a proposal that WMDT covered as Senate Bill 719.