The source of finance for fire services around Europe does vary from country to country with the main difference being whether the main source of funding comes from the state or from local or regional government.
Belgium
The budget is covered by local authorities with some state subsidies to purchase equipment. There is some redistribution of expenses to take account of local authorities (communes) that don't have their own fire service.
Croatia
Minimum financial contribution from the state budget plus 1.3 % tax on personal income from local government budget
Czech Republic
Professional firefighters in the Czech Republic are financed by the state through the budget chapter of expenditure of the Ministry of the Interior.
Army firefighters are financed by the Ministry of Defence.
Company firefighters are financed by the company.
Voluntary firefighters are financed by the local and municipal authorities.
Denmark
Government tax and local taxes and some of the local fire stations who only have voluntary firefighters without pay receive donations from local companies and foundations
Estonia
State budget
Finland
Every municipality pay “taxes” to fire brigade (60€/inhabitant)
France
The funding comes mainly from the regional level - the Départements - but there is also a contribution from local government - the collectivités. There may also be appeals directly to the state to fund investments.
Italy
Through a national structure named National Body of the National Fire Departments which depends of the Department of the Firefighters, Public Rescue and Civil Defence that constitutes a branch of the Ministry of the Interior.
Netherlands
Local government and Ministry of the Interior
Slovakia
State budget plus some non-budgetary resources: contribution of a compulsory car insurance for the cars used in interventions on the roads and EU funds for the reconstruction of firefighters’ buildings outside Bratislava region
Spain
Decentralised
Last updated: 20.8.10
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