County to Agree on Funding for VFD/EMS Departments

By Gloria Way

  Chambers County Commissioners Court will convene on Tuesday, December 10^th, 2024, and is expected to unanimously pass funding agreements for the county’s volunteer fire departments and Winnie-Stowell Emergency Medical Services.

  Funding for these agencies is through the county’s Health Services Tax. The tax is ½% of the county sales tax. It is estimated, according to the adopted 2025 County Budget, the health services tax will bring in $13,700,00.00 in revenue. The county’s public health department, the volunteer fire departments, the county EMS, Mont Belvieu EMS, and Winnie Stowell EMS, plus several other agencies such as the county’s animal shelter are funded through the health services tax.

  The Court has increased the funding for these departments due to growth and cost of equipment, etc. The 2025 funding for the volunteer fire department will include Anahuac VFD, Beach City VFD, Wallisville VFD, Smith Point VFD, Oak Island-Double Bayou VFD, and Cove VFD. Funding for the VFDs will be $100,000/each.

  The Court has increased the funding for Mont Belvieu Emergency Medical Services and Winnie-Stowell Emergency Medical Services to $1 million/year each. According to the WS EMS funding agreement the WS EMS must always staff two (2) certified medics, 24 hours per day, seven days per week, each day of the week. This will ensure that the Winnie EMS service area will be always covered in cases of emergencies. The cost increase also ensures that WS EMS can be competitive in paying paramedics and EMTs.

  Commissioners Court also added a provision that requires WS EMS to provide an annual independent audit by August 31^st summarizing how the funds have been spent and certifying to the county that the funds have been utilized solely for the purposes stated in its application for funding and in accordance with the Program.

  Additional funding for both the EMS and VFD can be provided at the discretion of the Court.

  Chambers County Commissioners’ Court voted to create the Chambers County Emergency Medical Services several years ago to eliminate the smaller EMS agencies in the county. These included the Anahuac EMS and Trinity Bay EMS. Winnie-Stowell EMS opted not to join the CC EMS, and questions remain unanswered as to why the county continues to fund the Mont Belvieu EMS which is a department of the City of Mont Belvieu.

    The agreements shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.