How much does it cost to run a volunteer department vs. a career department?
When comparing operating budgets between volunteer and career fire departments, you must first find a comparable department. You must compare geographical location, number of fire houses, apparatus and equipment, run volume etc. In our case, a comparable department to Dover is Annapolis, MD. Based on the proposed budget sent before their Mayor, the operating budget for FY2011 for the Annapolis Fire Department will be $14,092,500.00. By remaining a 100% volunteer organization, the men and women of the Dover Fire Department are saving the taxpayers of the City well over $12,500,000.00 annually! A substantial savings to our community, while still maintaining a high caliber, professional service on a daily basis.
