Auditor McGuiness: Volunteer Fire Service Saved Delawareans $255.7M for FY21, Annual Fire Report Shows

DOVER, DEL. – State Auditor Kathy McGuiness estimates the state’s volunteer fire service saved Delaware taxpayers nearly $255.7 million in fiscal year 2021.

“Delaware’s fire service is, and always has been, a tremendous asset to Delawareans,” McGuiness said. “As my team does every year, they performed a detailed cost analysis and identified what it would cost taxpayers to have an entirely state-employed fire service instead of having mostly volunteers.”

While the state has no plans to transform Delaware’s combination system into an entirely state-employed one, McGuiness’ office performs these calculations annually to show the fiscal value of having dedicated volunteer firefighters and EMTs.

“If the state were to have a fully state-employed fire service, it would cost Delawareans an exorbitant amount in property taxes,” McGuiness said. “For every $1,000 of a home’s assessed value, those residents would pay an additional $10.51. That means for a home assessed at $100,000, it would cost those residents an additional $1,051 in property taxes each year – just to support a fully state-employed fire service.”

McGuiness again recommends in this year’s report that the General Assembly consider creating a fund independent of Grant-In-Aid in the state budget to help pay for fire services.

“It takes adequate training, funding and resources to protect the public,” McGuiness continued. “To keep pace with call volume, career and volunteer fire service members need our support in ensuring proper funding to continue the long-standing and proud tradition the fire service has in Delaware.”

Read the Delaware Volunteer Fire Service Report by clicking here. Learn more about the Delaware Auditor’s Office at https://auditor.delaware.gov.

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Contact:        

Anna Nuzzolese, Executive Assistant

Anna.nuzzolese@delaware.gov

302-857-3907


Delaware Forestry Association annual meeting is March 22 in Bridgeville; Scholarship applications due by April 1.

BRIDGEVILLE, Del. – The Delaware Forestry Association (DFA) will present its 2018 “Tree Farmer of the Year” award on Thursday, March 22, at its annual banquet and meeting at the Bridgeville Fire Hall, 311 Market Street, Bridgeville, Delaware 19933, (302) 337-7272. Tickets are $27 for adults, $13.50 for children ages six to 12, and free for children under six. Reservations are kindly requested by March 16.

Registration forms are available online in the current edition of the DFA Winter Newsletter. Checks should be made payable to the “Delaware Forestry Association” and sent to: Delaware Forestry Association, P.O. Box 344, Bridgeville, DE 19933. For more information, contact: Steve Ditmer (phone: 410-896-9283).

The 2018 DFA Meeting Agenda:

  • 5:30 p.m. Registration & Social Hour
    – Silent Auction … remains open until 7:45 pm ***
  • 6:30 p.m. Buffet-Style Dinner
    – Crab Cakes, Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Dumplings, Cole Slaw, Green Bean Casserole, Rolls & Butter, Dessert, Beverage
  • 7:30 p.m. Welcome
    – DFA Business Meeting
    – Election of 2018-2019 DFA Board Directors
    – Delaware Tree Farmer-of-the-Year Award
    – Delaware Forest Service – Forestry Administrator’s Update
  • 8:30 p.m. Wrap-up/Announcement of Silent Auction Winners/Adjourn

    *** If you can DONATE items to the Silent Auction, please bring them or contact a DFA Board Director

Delaware’s Tree Farm Committee is part of the American Tree Farm System, founded more than 75 years ago to recognize landowners who practice proper forest stewardship by developing comprehensive management plans for diverse objectives such as wood products, wildlife habitat, water quality, and recreation.

Highlights from the 2017 DFA Annual Meeting and Tree Farmer of the Year Award

The Delaware Forestry Association is also offering its annual $1000 scholarship to a student who chooses forestry or a related major at a two-year or four-year accredited college or university. Applications are due by April 1 and the winner will be notified by May 1. Students will be eligible for up to 4 years of undergraduate study, upon reapplying, meeting the requirements, and being selected. All applicants must show financial need and academic merit. All applicants shall be in the upper 25% of their class in high school and maintain at least a 2.75 grade point average in college, based on a 4.0 scale. Scholarship money can be applied toward tuition, room and board, or books. The money will be sent directly to the college in which the student is enrolled. All applicants must submit a short essay describing their personal goals and reasons they feel they are deserving of this award. Applicants may be requested for a personal interview by the scholarship committee. The successful applicant will receive his or her award on Governor’s Day at the Delaware State Fair in Harrington.

Application forms can be downloaded at: http://delawareforest.com/scholarship. For more information, contact: Sam Topper at (302) 856-2893 or sam.topper@delaware.gov.

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Delaware Forestry Association holds annual meeting on March 23 in Bridgeville; offers $1,000 forestry scholarship

Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the Delaware Forestry Association (DFA) will present its 2017 “Tree Farmer of the Year” award on Thursday, March 23 at its annual banquet and meeting at the Bridgeville Fire Hall, 311 Market Street, Bridgeville, Delaware 19933, (302) 337-7272. Tickets are $27 for adults and free for children under 12. Reservations are kindly requested by March 17. Registration forms are available in the current edition of the DFA Winter Newsletter.  Checks should be made payable to the “Delaware Forestry Association” and sent to: Delaware Forestry Association, P.O. Box 344, Bridgeville, DE 19933.

tree-farm-sign

Delaware’s Tree Farm Committee is part of the American Tree Farm System, founded more than 75 years ago to recognize landowners who practice proper forest stewardship by developing comprehensive management plans for diverse objectives such as wood products, wildlife habitat, water quality, and recreation.

Highlights from the 2016 DFA Annual Meeting and Tree Farmer of the Year Award

The Delaware Forestry Association is also offering its annual $1000 scholarship to a student who chooses forestry or a related major at a two-year or four-year accredited college or university. Applications are due by April 1 and the winner will be notified by May 1. Students will be eligible for up to 4 years of undergraduate study, upon reapplying, meeting the requirements, and being selected. All applicants must show financial need and academic merit. All applicants shall be in the upper 25% of their class in high school and maintain at least a 2.75 grade point average in college, based on a 4.0 scale. Scholarship money can be applied toward tuition, room and board, or books. The money will be sent directly to the college in which the student is enrolled. All applicants must submit a short essay describing their personal goals and reasons they feel they are deserving of this award. Applicants may be requested for a personal interview by the scholarship committee. The successful applicant will receive his or her award on Governor’s Day at the Delaware State Fair in Harrington.

Application forms can be downloaded at: http://delawareforest.com/scholarship. For more information, contact: Sam Topper at (302) 856-2893 or sam.topper@delaware.gov.

Agenda:

  • 5:30 p.m.  – Registration & Social Hour (Silent Auction remains open until 7:45 p.m.)
  • 7:00 p.m. – Country-Style Dinner:  Crab Cakes, Oven-fried Chicken, Roast Beef Au Jus, Beef Dumplings, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Cole Slaw, Rolls & Butter, Dessert, Beverages (Coffee, Ice or Hot Tea, Water)

DFA Business Meeting

  •  8:00 p.m. – Welcome
    • Election of 2017-2018 DFA Board Directors
    • Delaware Tree Farmer-of-the-Year Award
    • Delaware 25th Anniversary Tree Farmer Recognition
    • Delaware Forest Service – Forestry Administrator’s Update
  • 9:00 p.m. Wrap-up – Announcement of Silent Auction Winners – Adjourn

Attendees who are able to donate items to the Silent Auction are asked to please bring them or contact a DFA Board Director. To expedite the evening’s activities, DFA members are asked to pre-send 2017 DFA Membership dues with their reservation forms.

 

 


Delaware Tree Farmer of the Year named on March 27

Delaware Forestry Association The Delaware Forestry Association (DFA) will present its 2014 Tree Farmer of the Year Award at its annual meeting on Thursday, March 27, 2014 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Bridgeville Fire Hall, 311 Market St., Bridgeville, DE 19933,  (302) 337-7272.

Tickets are $27 for adults and $12.50 for children ages 6 to 12. (Checks should be payable to “Delaware Forestry Association” – Mailing address: P.O. Box 344, Bridgeville, Delaware 19933). For more information contact: Steve Ditmer (phone: 410-896-9283). Please register by March 24.

DFA is a nonprofit organization established in 1982 to promote the sustainable practice of forestry and related industries on the Delmarva Peninsula. The association is a proud supporter of the Delaware Tree Farm Committee, part of the American Tree Farm System. For more information on the Delaware Tree Farm Committee, contact Dorothy Abbott at dotad@udel.edu or (302) 730-4000.

In addition to its annual meeting in March, DFA holds a number of educational events throughout the year and also supports scholarships and grants to encourage young people to pursue careers and further educational opportunities in forestry and natural resources.

Forestry Scholarship Deadline: April 1
Once again this year, the Delaware Forestry Association will award a $1000 scholarship to a full-time student who must choose forestry as their studies major and be accepted or enrolled in a two-year or four-year accredited school program. Complete instructions and application forms  are available at delawareforest.com and must be received by April 1. The winner will be notified by May 1. Students will be eligible for up to 4 years of undergraduate study, upon reapplying, meeting the requirements, and being selected. All applicants must show financial need and academic merit. All applicants shall be in the upper 25% of their class in high school and maintain at least a 2. 75 grade point average in college, based on a 4.0 scale. Scholarship money can be applied toward tuition, room and board, or books. The money will be sent directly to the college in which the student is enrolled. All applicants must submit a short essay describing their personal goals and reasons they feel they are deserving of this award. Applicants may be requested for a personal interview by the scholarship committee. The successful applicant will receive his or her award on Governor’s Day at the Delaware State Fairgrounds.

Applications can be mailed to Delaware Forestry Association, c/o John Herbert, 20587 Milton-Ellendale Hwy., Ellendale, DE  19941.

Delaware Forestry Association Annual Meeting Agenda

    • 5:30 p.m. – Registration & Social Hour
      – Silent Auction … remains open till 7:45 pm
    • 7:00 p.m. – Buffet-style Dinner
      Oven Fried Oysters, Crab Cakes, Roast Beef, Mash Potatoes, Dumplings, Cole Slaw, Green Bean Casserole, Rolls & Butter, Dessert, Beverage
    • 8:00 p.m. – Welcome
      – DFA Business Meeting
      – Election of 2014-2015 DFA Board Directors
      – Delaware Tree Farmer-of-the-Year Awards
      – Delaware Forest Service – Forestry Administrator’s Update
  • 9:00 p.m.  – Wrap-up; Announcement of Silent Auction Winners and Adjourn

Those who wish to donate items to the silent auction are asked to please bring them.