Funds paid to the county volunteer fire departments shall only be expended for fire protection services, including training, supplies, and equipment. The funds may also be expended to purchase insurance, including liability insurance, to insure coverage of acts or omissions which are directly related to the functions of a volunteer fire department which are committed by a volunteer fire department and the personnel of a volunteer fire department. The funds may not be expended for salaries, food, drink, social activities, or fund raising activities. After receiving the funds, the volunteer fire departments shall keep accurate records to verify that the funds were properly expended. Should the Barbour County Commission, in its sole discretion, find or determine that funds provided by this article have been improperly expended by an eligible volunteer fire department, the department that has improperly expended the funds shall reimburse and refund to the Barbour County Commission all such funds found by the county commission to have been improperly expended and in addition thereto shall pay a penalty amount equal to 10 percent of all improperly expended funds. Any volunteer fire department that fails to comply with this article, at the discretion of the Barbour County Commission, may be deemed to have forfeited the funds generated by this article and shall be subject to the penalties provided in this section.
Last modified: May 3, 2021