Monument Fire District, Nov. 12 – 2026 budget adopted; construction award approved

Proposed 2026 budget
Other approved items
Construction award
Recruitment award
Financial update
Facilities update
Executive session
Volunteer Pension Board of Trustees meeting

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District (TLMFPD) dba Monument Fire District (MFD) meeting on Nov. 12, the board held a public hearing before adopting the 2026 budget. The board also approved a construction award for the rebuild of Fire Station 3 (FS3), and a fire chief recruitment search. The board received several updates on the district’s fire station projects.

The board held an executive session pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes section 24-6-402(4)(e) to determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations.

A Donald Wescott Fire Protection District (DWFPD) Volunteer Firefighter Pension Fund (Legacy Plan) Board of Trustees Meeting was held before the regular MFD meeting.

Vice President John Hildebrand attended via Microsoft Teams.

Proposed 2026 budget

Fire Chief Andy Kovacs said no major changes had been made to the 2026 proposed budget presented at the October board meeting. A few additional revenue lines were added as follows:

• The sale of the existing FS3 (Woodmoor Drive) is expected to generate $1.266 million in revenue to purchase a new 2-acre site to rebuild FS3.

• The loan fund balance for about $14.908 million to construct FS3.

• Interest revenue received on the investment fund is expected to total $541,000. The district has received $146,000 in interest since approving the fund in August.

An additional $100,000 was added to allow a salary for the new fire chief for the last six months of 2026. The total administration personnel budget is about $2.150 million (does not include line staff wages).

The district expects a total revenue budget of about $24.358 million (about $19 million from property taxes) with no change to the existing mill levy set at 18.40 mills. The operations expense budget was set at about $21.794 million, said Kovacs.

MFD Board President Mark Gunderman opened a public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget. Hearing no comments for or against, the hearing was closed.

In a roll call vote, the board unanimously approved Resolution 2025-08 adopting the 2026 budget summarizing expenditures and revenues for each fund and appropriating sums of money to the various funds.

Other approved items

The board unanimously approved the following resolutions:

• The 2026 Wage Schedule (includes a 2.5% Cost of Living Allowance increase).

• The 2026 Fee Schedule (impact fees remain unchanged for 2026).

• The 2026 Board of Directors meeting schedule.

• The 2026 Employee Handbook.

Construction award

The board unanimously approved an award to Flintco LLC for about $11.963 million to construct a new Fire Station 3 on a 2-acre parcel north of the YMCA off Jackson Creek Parkway.

Recruitment award

The board unanimously approved Prothman to conduct an executive recruitment for the position of fire chief for a sum of $19,500 plus any related expenses. At the October meeting, Kovacs announced his plan to retire from the fire service at the end of 2026. The recruitment process is expected to be completed by mid-year.

Financial update

Treasurer Tom Kelly said the district is at 83.3 % of the total budget year to date as of Oct. 31, and presented the following:

• The combined overall revenue received year to date was about $22.337 million, and 92.1% of the 2025 income projected annual revenue is set at about $24.235 million.

• Overall expenses year to date are about $15 million and 80.1 % of the projected expense budget is set at about $18.764 million.

• The total checking/savings was about $38.561 million with about $13.058 million in the Operations/General Fund. The balance includes loan proceeds of about $18.146 million in Bank of Oklahoma financing for the Fire Station 3 rebuild.

Kelly said the 20 electronic transactions were appropriate and within budget. Of note were:

• $60,448, Flintco LLC, Administrative office remodel

• $731,794, Lonestar, Tactical Building, Fire Training Center

• $151,208, Kaiser Permanente, Health insurance

• $8,883, Wex Bank Inc., Fleet fuel

• $4,669, John Kerr, Property insurance for Admin Building

The board unanimously accepted the financial report as presented.

Facilities update

Division Chief of Support Services Jamey Bumgarner said the following:

• All the documents regarding the Station 1 Training Center have been submitted to the Town of Monument Planning Department. The approval process is anticipated to take about six to eight months to complete.

• The property agreement for the Fire Station 3 rebuild on a 2-acre lot north of the YMCA is close to being approved. The process is expected to take about 30 to 45 days.

• The remodel of Fire Station 2 is 100% complete. Crews moved back on Nov. 2, and the station is fully operational.

Executive session

The board moved into an executive session at about 5:40 p.m., pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes section 24-6-402(4)(e) to determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations.

Note: Kovacs confirmed to this reporter that when the board returned to regular session, no action was taken.

Volunteer Pension Board of Trustees meeting

The board held a DWFPD Volunteer Firefighter Pension Fund (Legacy Plan) Board of Trustees meeting before the regular MFD meeting.

Trustee Mike Badger attended via Microsoft Teams.

Badger announced the resignation of Trustee Dennis Feltz, and he introduced Bryan Ackerman to fill the vacant trustee seat. Director of Administration Jennifer Martin confirmed Ackerman had taken the oath of office before the meeting.

Badger said the actuarial study was received with no additional changes. The pension fund is 107% funded at the current levels. The most recent allocation report as of Sept. 30 showed $958,825.53 in the fund and a gain from Jan. 31 of $31,363.52.

Future Volunteer Pension Fund Board of Trustee meetings are scheduled for June 24 and Nov. 11, 2026, at 4 p.m.

The trustees meeting adjourned at 4:11 p.m.

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Meetings are usually held on the fourth Wednesday of every month. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 3 at 4:30 p.m. at Station 1, 18650 Highway 105. For Microsoft Teams virtual joining instructions, agendas, minutes, and updates, visit www.monumentfire.org or contact Director of Administration Jennifer Martin at 719-484-9011.

Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.