Sean C. Morgan
Fire Chief Dave Barringer has proposed a decrease of $337,000 in the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District’s budget in the 2015-16 fiscal year.
The proposed budget is $2.3 million, down from an adopted budget of $2.67 million in 2014-15, which ends on June 30.
Barringer presented the spending plan to the district’s Budget Committee on April 21.
The district’s general fund is projected to have a beginning fund balance of $147,000, a projection that has been reviewed by the district’s auditor. That figure corrects an ongoing issue with the ending fund balance of the previous year moving forward as the beginning fund balance of the following year.
That practice masked what should have been a negative beginning fund balance in 2014-15 of $117,000. The district board dissolved the district’s equipment reserve fund to cover the shortfall; and in conjunction with improvements collecting ambulance billing, provide a beginning fund balance for 2015-16.
In the budget proposal, personnel services, including benefits, would increase by $127,000. Materials and services would decrease $57,000. The administration general operating contingency fund decreases by $22,000, and Fire-Med and ambulance revenue has a projected increase of $120,00.
The unappropriated ending fund balance decreases $334,000, due in part to a revenue shortfall, and the $150,000 projection for the ending fund balance is an accurate reflection of available information, Barringer said in his budget message.
Planning for the Future
As the district enters the 2015-16 fiscal year, “our biggest areas of focus are revenue exploration, bond possibilities and priorities and maximizing our efficiency,” Barringer said.
The district’s newest ambulance is a used 2011 Premiere medic unit with 50,000 miles that it purchased last year, Barringer said. The district has ordered a new four-wheel drive unit that is due in September. The majority of funding for that comes from an anonymous donation of $100,000 from a member of the community.
The district has written a grant this year seeking funding for a repeater to increase power to the radio system, Barringer said, and it has submitted an application for a SAFER grant to fund three additional personnel.
The district’s self-contained breathing apparatuses are reaching the end of their life expectancy, and replacement should be another priority for the district, Barringer said. At 15 years old, they should be replaced in the next three years.
Overall, the district has seen increases in overall ambulance revenue as well increased call volume, he noted.
On the fire side, “the district currently has the best fleet of fire apparatus and other associated equipment in the history of the department,” Barringer said, but three of the district’s first-response vehicles are reaching their life expectancy and will need to be replaced in the near future.
“Slow revenue growth and the continued poor economy are major challenges for the district,” Barringer said. “As assessed values start to grow, more revenue will hopefully be available for the district to help address some of our equipment, personnel and vehicle needs.
“We are researching ways to address the above needs and are determined to find answers. Thus far, we have seen an increase in ambulance revenue, which has helped to offset some of our financial challenges.”
District personnel, volunteer and paid, have grown accustomed to functioning through adversity, Barringer said. “However, several things we can’t control seem to continue to affect our budget each year. Annual retirement and health care costs are among the biggest hurdles we face each budget cycle.”
The Budget Committee will meet again in May to consider approval of the budget. Once approved, the budget goes to the Board of Directors for adoption prior to June 30.
For more information, or to view a copy of the budget, visit the Fire Hall, 1099 Long St., or call (541) 367-5882.