Rural VFD Assistance Program Annual Report – FY 2018 Page 1
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ANNUAL REPORT FISCAL YEAR 2018 RURAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM I. OVERVIEW The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program (RVFDAP) was established in 2001 by the 77th Texas Legislature and expanded in 2009 by the 81st Legislature. RVFDAP provides two types of grants: VFD Assistance Grants and TIFMAS Grants. The program is administered by the Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS). VFD Assistance Grants The VFD Assistance Grants are funded through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Fund (Fund 5064), which is composed of revenue derived from an assessment to certain property and casualty insurers. The VFD Assistance Grant criteria, process and procedures were developed in the spring of 2002 in consultation with statewide advisory groups composed of firefighters, community leaders, educators, representatives from the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. The VFD Assistance Grants are cost-share grants provided to volunteer fire departments in the following categories: Category Grant Funding Limits Fire Trucks 90% of the actual cost not to exceed assigned maximums Fire Truck Chassis' /Slip-On Units Fire / Rescue Equipment 75% of the actual cost not to exceed assigned maximums Firefighter Protective Clothing 90% of the actual cost not to exceed assigned maximums Firefighter Training Tuition 100% of the cost of approved courses, subject to assigned Fire Training Aids maximums Dry Hydrants 100% of the costs of components, subject to assigned maximum Rural VFD Assistance Program Annual Report – FY 2018 Page 1 TIFMAS Grants The 81st Texas Legislature transferred the $1,000,000 per year Fire Department Emergency Program from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection to TFS for administration under the RVFDAP in January of 2010. These funds are from the Department of Insurance Fund (Fund 036) and are maintained in a separate account within Fund 5064, as required by statute. TFS worked closely with fire service advisors to develop criteria, processes and procedures for these funds to be used for Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) Grants, which are awarded to fire departments that are not eligible for the VFD Assistance Grants. Fire departments participating in TIFMAS provide a critical surge capacity that cannot be met with out of state resources. TIFMAS grants provide equipment and training to support the participating departments. II. ACTIVITY VFD Assistance Grants In FY 2018, VFD Assistance Grant funds were apportioned by Region at the beginning of the year as follows: WEST TEXAS CENTRAL TEXAS EAST TEXAS 21% 57% 22% These allocations correspond to the location of the state’s approximate 1,672 volunteer fire departments. The FY 2018 VFD Assistance Grants budget was $17,276,394. Program administration costs (including program delivery) is authorized at 7%. For FY 2018, administrative costs were 4.78%, thereby allowing additional grant awards to program participants. Priority was placed on approving outstanding grant applications for fire trucks. Actual grant funds awarded were distributed as follows: WEST TEXAS CENTRAL TEXAS EAST TEXAS 21.05% 56.44% 22.51% TFS conducted funding meetings in January, June and August. The following is a summary of the grant awards by category: Rural VFD Assistance Program Annual Report – FY 2018 Page 2 Number of Grants Dollar Value of Grants Category Awarded Fire Trucks 52 $ 8,715,445.35 Fire Truck Chassis / Slip- 78 $ 2,268,481.86 On Units Fire/Rescue Equipment 146 $ 2,500,081.06 Personal Protective 160 $ 2,003,054.43 Equipment (PPE) 1,874 $ 2,973,829.13 Training 5,279- Students 152- Aids Total 2,310 $18,460,891.83 TIFMAS Grants In fiscal year 2018, TIFMAS Grant funds were apportioned 80% to TIFMAS vehicles and 20% to training tuition grants. TIFMAS vehicle grants were approved and assigned to applicants within three of the eight TFS branches in the state to meet the strategic needs of TIFMAS. The following is a summary of TIFMAS grant awards by category: Category Number of Grants Awarded Dollar Value of Grants Fire Trucks 3 $ 735,998.00 Equipment 32 $ 40,441.39 155 Training Tuition $ 211,090.65 747 - Students Total 190 $ 987,530.04 III. PLANS FOR FY 2019 Spending authority is set at $17,276,395 for VFD Assistance Grants and $1,000,000 for TIFMAS Grants. TFS will continue approving outstanding grant applications for VFDs requesting assistance for a second fire truck. Rural VFD Assistance Program Annual Report – FY 2018 Page 3 IV. LEGISLATIVE NEED The RVFDAP has been an incredibly successful program since it was initiated by the 77th Texas Legislature. However, with nearly $205 million in unfunded VFD Assistance Grant requests, much remains to be done. Sustaining the program’s increased spending authority would greatly assist in addressing the unfunded requests. Also, increased funding for TIFMAS Grants is needed to further strengthen the TIFMAS program and the critical surge capacity that it provides to the state. V. EFFECTIVENESS The RVFDAP continues to be a highly effective program and is recognized nationwide as one of the most successful legislative initiatives to assist fire departments and build capacity in the fire service. In its 16 years of operation, VFD grants have placed into service over 1,800 fire trucks, has provided safety gear to over 69,500 firefighters, and has helped train over 79,000 firefighters. TFS continues to leverage RVFDAP funds with federal USDA funds to provide VFD grants in an effort to maximize program assistance. In 2006, the USDA Forest Service awarded the program its national Franklin Award for outstanding service in protecting underserved rural communities. In its eight years of operation, TIFMAS grants have placed into service over 44 fire trucks, and has helped train approximately 7,300 firefighters. The grants have made a significant improvement in the state’s ability to rapidly mobilize large groups of firefighters and engine teams from unaffected areas to meet critical emergency response needs. Since 2008, TIFMAS mobilizations have provided 1,132 fire engines and 4,555 firefighters during state-lead emergency response. The program and its’ components continue to be very user friendly and responsive to the needs of Texas communities. It offers a simple and straightforward grant application process that makes it easy for fire departments to apply. And, has experienced overwhelming support and participation from Texas fire departments. As a result, grant application backlogs are forecasted to continue for the foreseeable future. On behalf of volunteer fire departments everywhere, TFS extends its sincere thanks and gratitude to the members of the Texas Legislature who work to sustain and strengthen this valuable program. Rural VFD Assistance Program Annual Report - FY 2018 Page 4 Texas A&M Forest Service Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program (HB 2604) FY 2018 Grant Awards 09/01/2017 - 08/31/2018 Central Eastern Western Range Interstate Region Pineywoods Totals APPROVALS Tender 5 989,967.50 13 2,600,000.00 2 418,000.00 20 $4,007,967.50 Brush Truck Large 4 800,000.00 7 1,418,000.00 4 800,000.00 15 $3,018,000.00 Brush Truck Small 1 100,000.00 7 707,978.68 5 500,000.00 13 $1,307,978.68 Truck Chassis - Large 2 180,000.00 2 180,000.00 1 90,000.00 5 $450,000.00 Truck Chassis - Small 3 135,000.00 5 216,766.31 4 177,179.43 12 $528,945.74 Slip On 3 60,000.00 14 315,846.12 7 176,000.00 24 $551,846.12 Dry Hydrants 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 $0.00 Fire/Rescue Equipment 29 475,878.62 79 1,343,580.00 29 520,030.95 137 $2,339,489.57 Training Aids 29 212,955.47 85 609,028.11 38 238,582.71 152 $1,060,566.29 Structural Gear 23 328,519.15 70 990,879.95 26 367,424.42 119 $1,686,823.52 Wildland Gear 10 70,468.04 16 128,561.50 10 69,427.31 36 $268,456.85 Training Tuition 221 272,377.00 1109 1,264,933.34 392 375,952.50 1722 $1,913,262.84 SubTotals 330 $3,625,165.78 1407 $9,775,574.01 518 $3,732,597.32 2255 $17,133,337.11 Fire/Rescue Equip - Emer Grant 0 - 4 69,750.00 5 90,841.49 9 $160,591.49 PPE - Emer Grant 0 - 4 39,900.00 1 7,874.06 5 $47,774.06 Trucks - Emer Grant 0 - 3 314,054.66 1 67,444.51 4 $381,499.17 Chassis - Emer Grant 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 $0.00 FFP Slip-On Units 13 260,000.00 11 220,000.00 13 257,690.00 37 $737,690.00 CATEGORY SUMMARY Trucks 10 1,889,967.50 30 5,040,033.34 12 1,785,444.51 52 $8,715,445.35 Slip on/Chassis 21 635,000.00 32 932,612.43 25 700,869.43 78 $2,268,481.86 Fire/Rescue Equip. 29 475,878.62 83 1,413,330.00 34 610,872.44 146 $2,500,081.06 Training Aids/Tuition 250 485,332.47 1194 1,873,961.45 430 614,535.21 1874 $2,973,829.13 PPE 33 398,987.19 90 1,159,341.45 37 444,725.79 160 $2,003,054.43 Totals 343 $3,885,165.78 1429 $10,419,278.67 538 $4,156,447.38 2310 $18,460,891.83 Percent of Total Funds 21.05% 56.44% 22.51% 100% Texas A&M Forest Service Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program (HB 2604) FY 2018 Grant Approvals by Category (Excludes VFA Funds) Period Ending 08/31/2018 Region Name County Category Description TFS Amt Central 2604 VFD Hill Large Truck Chassis $90,000.00 Central 287 R/C Fire & Rescue Navarro Training Tuition $625.00 Central 287 R/C Fire & Rescue Navarro Training Aids $2,209.93 Central 287 R/C Fire & Rescue Navarro Tender $200,000.00 East 84 East VFD Anderson Wildland PPE $8,400.00 East 980 North VFD San Jacinto Training Tuition $1,840.00 Central Abbott VFD Hill Training Tuition $920.00 Central Ables Springs vfd Kaufman Training Tuition $1,200.00 Central Ables Springs vfd Kaufman Training