Many fire departments are counting their pennies until the new fiscal year begins on July 1, but that doesn't mean they'll start spending big on July 2. According to local news station WUSA9.com, Prince George's County (Md.) Fire/EMS won't authorize repairs to emergency vehicles performed by private facilities — even repairs less than $1,000 — and won't fund physicals for new volunteers.

The department's spokesman Mark Brady said that while the budgets are tight, the department is not out of money — it is just trying to conserve what it has. "This has been brewing for awhile and with oversight we've been able to eliminate certain things," he said. "As we get closer to July, we'll do as much as we can. But it's not just fire and EMS, it's every agency within Prince George's County."

The department has not closed any fire stations, and it has about 90 pumpers that are funded and available for service. "That's higher than any other county around," Brady said. "There are fewer ladder trucks and rescue squads, and any one we lose through accident or damage, we're trying to get it repaired." But Brady is confident that the department is ready to respond in the event of a major disaster.

Brady said there will continue to be more scrutiny over spending in Prince George's County through the remainder of 2009 and may include additional furloughs and layoffs. The department has 750 approved staffing positions and currently is at 715. Three new retirement letters were turned in this week.

"We have about 100 people that are eligible for retirement at 20 years, but the economy makes them want to stay on the job," Brady said.

But the department does have some distinct advantages in these tight times. "We are one of the largest combination and volunteer departments in the country," Brady said. "I can say that our volunteers have really stepped right up to the plate and are staffing the positions during days of the week and are providing a larger amount of assistance. We have re-adjusted schedules and are looking at sick leaves."