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Montgomery County (web | news) , Md. - Red light camera revenue could soon mean new equipment for fire and rescue services in Montgomery County, under a plan drafted by Councilman Phil Andrews.

The plan is an alternative to the proposed ambulance fee. Council members say they have received hundreds of calls in opposition to the fee and needed to come up with a new revenue source, but not all county leaders are on board with the new proposal.

Marcine Goodloe has been a member of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue service for more than 30 years. She knows the need for new equipment, but she doesn't want the funding to come from ambulance transport fees. "We have said from the very beginning that there are many other places in Montgomery County government where savings can be achieved and other revenues can be brought in to the county without affecting the people," said Goodloe.

A staunch opponent to the ambulance fees, Andrews says his proposal will do just that. Under the plan, the council would take 50% of the revenues from speed and red light cameras and use them to purchase new fire and rescue equipment as needed each year. "What better way than to tie funds that are currently being garnered from unsafe driving, red light and speed cameras to have that used for traffic safety enhancements including emergency response," said Andrews.

County Executive Ike Leggett, who originally proposed the ambulance fee, is strongly against the new measure saying it could add to Montgomery County's budget shortfall. He says traffic camera money, which is about $10 million, is already being used for pedestrian and other public safety programs.

Leggett says if you take the transport fees off the table, the county loses out on another $14 million. "Rather than going in the direction of providing savings, we are going actually in the opposite direction," said Leggett.

While the council and the county executive seem very divided on the issue, so do the career and volunteer personnel. Goodloe says in the end, the county will have to work together to find funding to keep its residents safe. "I think that we will try to work cooperatively with them as we have through this entire matter," said Goodloe.

Leggett believes if the new measure passes it will jeopardize the ongoing legislative support for the camera program, the first in Maryland. A public hearing on the issue is scheduled for December 9th.

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