LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad (LVRS) has requested a rescue tax rate increase from $0.0009 to $0.030 per $100 of assessed value in St. Mary’s County. The request was presented to the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2025. If approved, the proposed tax rate increase would cost the average household an estimated $77.50 annually.
LVRS had previously sought an increase to $0.0011 but was advised by the commissioners to reassess and request additional funding.
“LVRS requires a rescue tax rate increase to sustain daily operations and support the capital investment programs for apparatus and the modification/replacement of our station,” LVRS President Danny Bowles said.
While acknowledging the financial contributions generated through fundraising and memorial funds, Bowles emphasized the need for stable funding. “Hope is not a strategy, and relying on fundraising and donations is very much a reliance on hope,” he said.
Over the past five years, tax revenue allocated to LVRS has increased at an annual rate of 2.35%, totaling an additional $26,923.71 in that period. Fundraising contributed $182,413. However, during the same time, inflation averaged 3.9% per year, while costs for personal protection equipment (PPE) and fuel both rose by 30%. Facility maintenance costs increased by 10% over three years, and vehicle insurance premiums climbed 46%. In the last fiscal year alone, workers’ compensation costs surged by 23%.
Bowles noted the strain these increases have placed on the squad’s budget. “2.3% is not helping to keep up with that quite as much as we would hope. We are making do due to the strictest of discipline,” he said.
The requested funding would be used for temporary repairs to the squad’s current building, addressing issues such as five roof leaks, and ultimately facilitating a transition to a new facility. The current station is outdated, with the lack of an elevator posing significant challenges for older personnel who struggle to attend meetings on the second floor. In the short term, the funds would also support the purchase of essential medical kits and other vital equipment, as well as the acquisition of a new ambulance. The price of the ambulance, initially contracted at $280,000, has since increased to $370,000, adding further financial pressure.
In response to the request, the commissioners approved a public hearing to gather community input on the proposed tax rate increase. The hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. on March 4, 2025, at the Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad, 22855 Lawrence Ave., Leonardtown, MD 20650. The commissioners are expected to make a final decision in May based on public feedback.
While support for emergency services remains high, the commissioners noted that the request follows a similar tax increase proposal from the Leonardtown Fire Department, which may lead to increased taxpayer scrutiny.
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