Should volunteer firefighters receive modest payments for answering calls or staffing their firehouses? A Nov. 23 forum in Auburn will examine that question as New York fire service organizations prepare another push for legislation allowing nominal compensation.
The Cayuga County Fire Advisory Board is sponsoring “Future of the Fire Service,” a panel discussion and open forum scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, 1879 W. Genesee Street Road.
The event will cover proposed legislation, how nominal compensation could work, potential effects on local departments and questions about the concept. Firefighters, officers, local government officials, community leaders and residents with questions are encouraged to attend.
Scheduled panelists are David Denniston of the Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York, Bruce Heberer of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs and Bill Streicher of the county fire coordinators association.
What is nominal compensation?
The proposal would allow local authorities responsible for fire protection to establish limited payments for volunteer firefighters responding to emergencies or participating in designated standby activities.
Supporters describe it as a recruitment and retention tool that could help volunteers manage the costs and demands of serving their communities.
The distinction matters: The proposal would give communities an option, rather than require every volunteer department to begin paying its members.
Senate bill S10597, sponsored by Sen. Monica Martinez, and its Assembly counterpart, A10630A, outline a framework for those programs. The Senate measure remains in committee.
The legislation has not become law. The Association of Fire Districts says the proposal was not enacted during the 2026 session and that it intends to continue advocating for it in 2027.
The Auburn forum will explain the proposal and take questions; it is not a meeting to approve a local payment program.
Why fire service leaders want the discussion
The debate reflects broader concerns about maintaining reliable emergency coverage as volunteers balance calls, training and department responsibilities with employment and family obligations.
As FingerLakes1 previously reported, supporters argue that modest compensation could reduce some of the financial barriers to joining or remaining in a department.
Volunteers can face expenses for fuel, vehicle use and child care while also committing time to training, fundraising, meetings and emergency responses.
Payments would introduce financial decisions for local governments and fire districts, however. Communities would need to determine whether to participate, how to fund a program and what activities would qualify.
Organizers say the Nov. 23 discussion is intended to address misconceptions and explain what the legislation could mean for departments and the communities they serve.
Fire service groups disagree over funding and safeguards
The statewide debate has included a public disagreement among organizations that share concerns about recruitment but differ over how compensation legislation should proceed.
The fire chiefs association and allied groups have criticized the Firefighters Association of the State of New York over its role in negotiations. Their preferred approach has emphasized giving local governments authority to act without waiting for a state funding commitment.
FASNY disputes that account and says it supports nominal compensation with provisions addressing funding, fairness and oversight.
The organization argues that relying entirely on local money could leave departments in financially constrained communities unable to offer incentives comparable to those available in wealthier areas.
The amended Assembly proposal includes a nominal compensation assistance fund and authorizes an initial $15 million, subject to a legislative appropriation. That is proposed funding, rather than money currently available to departments.
Those differences make the forum relevant to taxpayers as well as firefighters: The question involves both staffing emergency services and deciding who would pay for a new incentive.
Existing training stipends are a separate program
New York already offers certain financial incentives for volunteers, which can make the compensation discussion confusing.
The state’s Volunteer Firefighter Stipend Program provides payments for completing specified training courses. Local training stipends also are permitted within the program’s rules.
Those training payments differ from the proposed authority to compensate volunteers for emergency responses and standby service.
The forum’s advertised topics include explaining those distinctions, reviewing the legislation, discussing effects on local departments and answering questions from attendees.
Questions may be submitted in advance to denniston@afdsny.org.
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