GEORGETOWN, Del. - Sussex County is establishing two optional programs aimed at providing additional financial support to local fire and emergency medical services companies. Sussex County Council unanimously approved the programs Tuesday. One will establish a centralized ambulance billing service, while the other will help provide new ambulances to fire and EMS companies across the county.
Under the centralized billing program, Sussex County would coordinate ambulance billing through a third-party vendor rather than having 22 departments separately pay for and manage the process.
The county also plans to pay for three ambulances countywide each year. County officials said the program would allow each fire and EMS company to receive a new county-purchased ambulance every seven years.
County officials said the two programs could save taxpayers nearly $500,000 annually. “This collaborative effort is putting bulk purchasing power to work for all of us, saving substantial time and money,” County Finance Director Gina A. Jennings said. “We are stronger together.”
Jennings worked with the Sussex County Volunteer Firefighters Association to develop the programs. The move follows a yearlong study examining the financial health and sustainability of volunteer fire and EMS services throughout Delaware. Sussex County received the results of the study in June 2025.
According to the county, the study examined current finances, volunteer and personnel trends and recommendations for helping the public safety network meet the needs of a growing population. Sussex County currently provides $6 million annually in funding for local fire and EMS companies. County officials said the new programs are intended to provide additional financial support and help stabilize the companies’ finances.
“The County has a long track record of supporting us, and we’re grateful that will grow and continue,” Sussex County Volunteer Firefighters Association President Michael Suit said.
