EATONVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
2009 LEVY LID LIFT
PROPOSAL
The following proposal will show the total Proposed 2009 budget based
on the current level of funding. It will then show the addition of
either one firefighter/paramedic or one firefighter/EMT and their
impact on budget and the enhancement of Advanced Life Support (ALS) or
Basic Life Support (BLS) coverage for the town.
Each firefighter/paramedic or EMT will be budgeted for the first year
at $75,000. This will be inclusive of all wages, benefits, training,
uniforms, and personal firefighting equipment (turnouts, helmet,
etc.). Seventy-five thousand dollars equates to $.34 of the requested
levy lid lift amount.
I used the general fund contribution from 2008 for the 2009 budget. I
was not authorized to make an increase to help absorb the increases in
fuel, volunteer compensation, and an expected increase in the Fire
Comm dispatching contract. Some of the above could be offset by the
new transport revenue. The transport fees are an estimate as we have
no precedent at this time. The EMS Levy money is based on the current
2008 amount, which could possibly decrease in 2009.
January 1, 2009 budget without levy lid lift money
General fund
$231,500
EMS Levy
$102,500
Transport fees $ 50,000
TOTAL
$384,000
The ideal coverage would be two positions, 24 hours per day, seven
days a week. To offset vacations, sick leave, training, etc. we would
need four firefighter/paramedics and four firefighter/EMTs. With the
amount of money we have available eight fulltime paid firefighters
will have to wait till sometime in the future. I have calculated the
cost for, and the coverage provided by, firefighter/paramedics,
firefighter/EMTs and the percentage of coverage that would still be
required of our volunteer firefighters.
The following shows the expected coverage for 2008. It then shows the
impact of adding up to three full time staff if the levy lid lift
should pass.
2008
Firefighter/Paramedic #1
Firefighter/EMT #1
Assistant to the Chief/EMT
Volunteers
ALS Coverage
Volunteer Coverage
22%
64%
2009
Budget
$384,000
Add Firefighter/Paramedic #2
ALS Coverage
Volunteer Coverage
Budget
Levy
69%
43%
$459,000
$.34
Add Firefighter/Paramedic #3
ALS Coverage
Volunteer Coverage
Budget
Levy
93%
39%
$534,000 $
.68
Add Firefighter/EMT #2
ALS Coverage
Volunteer Coverage
Budget
Levy
93%
25%
$609,000
$1.02
There will also need to be some remodeling and an addition to the
current fire station. I have no bids but I believe that $40,000 would
be adequate. I hope to have a better ballpark figure by the council
meeting on May 12. Using the levy lid lift, $.18 would cover the
remodel amount. As an alternative we could do with temporary quarters
and see if higher than expected transport fees next year would cover
the cost of a remodel.
Remodel
Budget
Levy
$40,000
$649,000
$1.20
As a reminder, I did not include any increases in the 2009 budget.
With the fact that we now transport, our fuel costs will rise
significantly. Also, Central Pierce Fire & Rescue, the largest fire
district in our dispatching service, Fire Comm, is leaving in October
in a joint effort with Tacoma Fire. Fire Comm has not been able to
give me any idea at this time about the impact on Eatonville's share
starting next year.
I believe the transport revenue will fund the volunteer compensation
and some of the other increases. The more full time firefighters we
hire the lighter the load on our volunteers. I am currently estimating
that the budgeted amount for volunteers in 2009 will be $40,000, which
is already included in the 2009 budget number.
