Fire Truck Financing: It's a post-FEMA world

FEMA and AFG grants have been reduced each year for the past five years. As the federal budget deficit grows larger and calls for fiscal responsibility prevail, all signs point to further smaller grants.

Are you ready? It's been nice to have free money the past 10 years or so but that world is about to end. Studies show that when organizations rely on grant funding, they rarely develop forward thinking plans to fund a complete budget. They also lose their ability to explain their value to their community.

Can you avoid these problems? Is your future replacement plan highly dependent upon grants? If so, you may fall far short of having the safest and newest apparatus. Smart departments are beginning to talk with their stakeholders (local governments, citizens, local businesses) now about the future needs of new fire apparatus and the smaller grant funding pool.

In Summary
Take steps today to become prepared for new apparatus without grant funding. It'll take years to educate your stakeholders that the free money is gone and the price of apparatus for a safe community has risen. They will have to now fit the new apparatus into their budget rather than rely upon grant funding.


Stay safe!

John R. Hill
Apparatus Budgeting Consultant
ENVIZION Financial
www.envizionfire.com