Gov. Josh Shapiro made a visit to Lancaster Wednesday morning to build support for his proposal to expand state funding for local fire departments and emergency medical services and county 911 call centers, one of a number of such visits he has been making around the state.
Speaking at the brand-new Lancaster Fire Station No. 3 on East King Street, which was dedicated over the weekend, the governor said emergency responders statewide are struggling with rising costs and recruiting challenges.
“Creating safer communities across the Commonwealth starts by investing in the first responders and law enforcement personnel who always have our backs,” Shapiro said.
Before his news conference, Shapiro held a brief meeting, closed to the media, with local elected officials and firefighters.
The first-term Democrat’s 2022-23 budget proposal calls for a $36 million increase for equipment, training and compensation for fire and EMS servides; more than $50 million for 911 systems and the creation of a dedicated fund to support the state police.
Overall, the state’s 911 centers are 20% understaffed he said, while costs have risen by 23%. A 2018 study found that firefighter ranks had dwindled by 22,000 since the early 2000s; and EMS ranks by 6,000 since 2012.
“We have to change those trends,” he said.
