Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
The Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District Budget Committee approved a $2 million budget for 2006-07 that is virtually identical to its 2005-06 budget.
The budget year ends on June 30. Next, the fire district board will hold a public hearing and then approve the budget.
The 2006-07 budget represents a $20,064 increase – 1.013 percent – over the 2005-06 budget, which was $1.98 million.
“The main factors for this increase (are) cost-of-living wage increases, retirement and fuel cost increases for the upcoming fiscal year,” Fire Chief Mike Beaver said. The budget also includes an entire year of benefits and salaries for a sixth paramedic-firefighter hired in April.
The 2005-06 budget included the position, but it was not filled until this year.
Beaver also said the growth of the fire district has forced the need to obtain some type of “aerial-elevated stream firefighting vehicle” so the district can maintain its Insurance Services Office rating.
After completing a review earlier this year , ISO, which rates fire protection services, threatened to downgrade SHFAD’s fire insurance classification from a Class 4/8B to a Class 5/8B. Some insurance companies use ISO’s ratings to calculate their fire insurance premiums, so a lower rating could result in higher premiums for people living within the area served by SHFAD.
“Obtaining such a vehicle by itself will not solve all the requirements needed to maintain our rating,” Beaver said. “We hope this will be accomplished through successful grant funding this year, but more realistic options to this and other fire apparatus replacement issues have to be addressed in the near future.”
The district is planning to purchase a new medic unit later this year, the chief said. “The district is currently in the third year of ambulance call volumes near the 2,000 number and is on pace to respond to over 2,300 calls for service this year alone.”
Addressing some areas in training requirements and fire apparatus upgrades that will allow the district to maintain its ISO rating will be the areas of focus in the 2006-07 fiscal year, Beaver said.
On the revenue side of the budget, the district will collect some $794,000 in taxes. FireMed and ambulance fees are projected to provide $540,000. The district begins with approximately $408,000 in funds carried over from 2005-06, and the bottom line is increased by a $200,000 tax advance loan.
Personal services, including salaries, retirement and insurance benefits, increases by $26,764 from $1,005,144 to $1,031,908. A change in providers provided a decrease in health insurance costs of approximately $21,000.
Materials and services, including operating costs, increases by $10,499, from $590,698 to $601,197. Ambulance division materials and services will decrease by $21,050 as a result of the department’s switch to Linn County Sheriff’s Office for dispatch services.
Capital outlays decrease by $6,750, from $50,750 to $44,000.Among capital outlays planned for the next year are two heart monitors and an additional heavy duty ambulance cot.
The equipment reserve fund is budgeted with an increase of $61,000, a total budget of $154,550, for equipment upgrades and purchases.