Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District’s proposed 2016-17 budget will increase by $196,000 to $2.5 million, about 8.5 percent.
Fire Chief Dave Barringer presented the budget and a summary to the district’s Budget Committee on April 19.
Within the budget, personnel costs will increase by $77,000 to $1.5 million. Materials and services will increase by $89,000, while capital outlays will decrease by $80,500.
For the first time in several years, Barringer said, this year the district did not borrow money in the first part of the year from a line of credit.
The district will begin the year on July 1 with $288,000 carried over from this budget year, 2015-16. Ambulance and Fire-Med revenue will increase $28,000, to $725,000. Miscellaneous income will increase from $5,000 to $20,000, with another $45,000 from previously levied taxes and interest. The budget anticipates $1.08 million in property tax revenue, up from $1.063 million.
The total budget continues to recognize an authorized line of credit of up to $350,000, which wasn’t used in the current budget but expands the size of the total budget.
Within the district’s administrative division, personnel costs increase by $45,000. Within the ambulance division, they increase by $29,000, and in the fire division, they increase by $3,250.
The increases represent an increase of 1 percent in Public Employees Retirement System contributions and 10 percent in health insurance premiums. It also includes cost-of-living increases for six paramedic-firefighters.
The fire chief’s salary will increase by $2,000, to $84,000. The salaries for three battalion chiefs increase by about $6,000, to $237,500. Salaries for the six paramedics increase by about $2,000, to $415,000. The budget includes $141,000 for part time medics, up from $130,000.
Materials and services increases are across the board for accounting and auditing, advertising, travel, legal services, office supplies, memberships and other expenses. The largest increases are about $10,000 for vehicle insurance, $8,000 for dispatch services, $6,000 for repairs and maintenance and about $19,000 for operating supplies. Among smaller line items are uniforms and clothing in the fire division increase from $4,000 to $8,000.
Last year, the district closed its equipment reserve fund to cover budget items, Barringer said. “As our budget continues to look favorable and we recoup from a negative beginning fund balance, we have a goal to reopen this fund.”
In 2016-17, the district is seeking two grants for more than $500,000. One would pay for 45 sets of self-contained breathing apparatus.
The SCBA gear is reaching the end of its certified life expectancy, Barringer said. Failing to win the grant, the district will use money from a bond levy if approved by voters to purchase the SCBA gear.
The second grant would provide funds for additional staffing, three additional medics. The district currently has three battalion chiefs, six paramedics and 10 part-time medics.
In the past year, the district purchased a used ambulance and is purchasing a new ambulance with $100,000 in funds donated by a local resident. The balance of the cost for the new ambulance will be paid on on a 5-year loan.
“The district’s fire equipment and training improvements, along with the city of Sweet Home’s improvements in the municipal water system has continued to help the district maintain our current ISO rating of 4/8b,” Barringer said. “We have insured there are 4,000 gallons of water at each station by moving around our tenders. We have also been working on rural dry hydrants. As we complete our pre-fire plans, we will initiate inspection plans, which in turn helps our community improve fire safety.”
“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,” Barringer said. “We have researched ways to address the above needs and are making changes to ambulance billing as well as trying to acquire a new bond. Thus far, we have seen an increase in ambulance revenue, which has helped to offset some of our financial challenges.”
The Budget Committee will meet again at 7 p.m. on May 24 to consider and approve the budget. From there, it goes to the district board for adoption before July 1.
Kevin Strong was elected committee chairman. Ron Sipe was named vice chairman.
Present at the meeting were committee members Sipe and Michelle Swett and board members Tim Geil, Larry Johnson, Dawn Mitchell and Elmer Riemer. Absent were board member Don Hopkins and committee members Charlene Adams, Strong and Rob Younger.