Alternative Funding for Fire and
Emergency Medical Services Departments

To deliver necessary protection for their respective communities, Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Departments require adequate levels of funding for salaries, benefits, training, operating expenses and equipment. With increasing tax budgets and decreasing government subsidies, it is becoming increasingly difficult for fire and EMS departments to meet greater and more complex demands for their services.

To meet the critical needs of the community, departments must become proactive in the development of alternative funding mechanisms. Some of these alternatives include non-emergency patient transportation, contracted special event coverage, or billing for services exclusive of patient transportation.

EMS Monograph # 4, Revenue Recovery, examines alternative funding methods to traditional fee-for-service revenue generation. Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) United States Fire Administration (USFA) has developed a Guide to Funding Alternatives for Fire and Emergency Medical Services Departments. This document can be obtained from FEMA. For updated information, visit the USFA Web site UPDATED GUIDE TO ALTERNATIVE FUNDING FOR FIRE AND EMS DEPARTMENTS NOW AVAILABLE.

Finally, visit this site for links to information on the FIRE Act Grant Program administered by FEMA/USFA.