Monroe County’s fire excess levy is up for renewal in 2024, and will appear on the May primary ballot for voters. According to records from the state auditor’s office, volunteer fire departments in the county will share roughly $200,000 (around $50k per department). The Alderson Volunteer Fire Department, which serves a small share of Monroe County, will receive $5,000 annually.
All the county’s fire departments are fully volunteer.*
The funding plays a core role in Monroe County public safety, providing financial support for firefighter equipment, tools, apparatus, various insurance obligations, training, and utility payments.
Under recent legislation, this levy will require the support of a majority of voters. In 2018, the levy failed on the spring primary ballot but passed on the November general ballot. Under the current schedule, it’s up for renewal every five years.
Further Reading: Special Sources of Fire Department Funding in West Virginia
*Monroe County uses a combination of paid and volunteer EMS personnel. All fire personnel are volunteers, and the scope of this excess levy is strictly for fire.