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OCN > 2311 > Donald Wescott Fire Protection District, Oct. 11 – Subdistrict dissolution process update; tax revenue uncertain

Donald Wescott Fire Protection District, Oct. 11 – Subdistrict dissolution process update; tax revenue uncertain

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Donald Wescott Fire Protection District (DWFPD) rescheduled September meeting held on Oct. 11, the Board of Directors received an update on the subdistrict dissolution process, heard about revenue uncertainty, and received the first presentation of the proposed 2024 budget.

Director Mike Forsythe was excused.

The meeting began at 4:38 p.m. due to a delay with the Zoom link.

Subdistrict dissolution process update

The district’s attorney, Michelle Ferguson of Ireland Stapleton Pryor Pascoe PC law firm, attending via Zoom, said the subdistrict dissolution election is working its way through the process and hopefully the district will have a result on Nov. 8. See www.ocn.me/v23n8.htm#dwfpd and www.ocn.me/v18n12.htm#dwfpd.

Note: The board adopted a temporary increase of 7.17 mills (for the district) and 15.25 mills (for the sub-district) in property tax collection for 2023. The mill levy adjustment was approved to offset a loss of revenue that occurred due to the state Legislature’s temporary drop in the Residential Assessment Rate for 2023. See www.ocn.me/v22n12.htm#dwfpd and visit www.monumentfire.org for information regarding the Joint Factual Summary for the DWFPD dissolution and the mill levy certification for each district can be found under transparency for DWFPD.

Property tax revenue uncertain

Fire Chief Andy Kovacs said the following:

  • The district is awaiting the outcome of the Nov. 7 election and the passing or failure of Proposition HH.
  • If it does not pass, further state legislation is planned to cap special district revenue at 4%.
  • Depending on the outcome of Proposition HH either passing or failing, and if 6A/6B passes or fails, the district will refer back to the board with a new revenue proposal and budget accordingly.
  • If the ballot measure 6A/6B passes, residents will see a decrease in the mill levy.
  • The combined district revenue for 2024 is estimated to be about $22 million (includes about $4.3 million in property tax revenue for DWFPD); the contractual services for providing fire and EMS service to the Wescott customers is projected at about $4.2 million.

The lion’s share of revenue comes from property tax assessments, but the district receives other revenue sources from impact fees within the Town of Monument, specific ownership taxes, and a state supplement for the EMS ambulance has increased by $30,000 for a total of $330,000 for 2024, he said.

Increased costs of doing business

Kovacs said that since 2004, and even 2019, there has been an astronomical difference in the cost of new apparatus, with most engines taking three years to build. The district has three Ford F150 chassis on order, and a new ambulance with an anticipated delivery date in the first quarter of 2024. The ambulance required finding a new vendor due to the district’s usual vendor having no availability, resulting in a $30,000 cost increase. The combined district historically received more revenue in 2023, but the cost of doing business has increased, with higher health care costs for additional family members. Salaries and benefits will need to remain competitive to recruit and retain staff, he said.

Proposed 2024 budget

Kovacs said budget development consumes the administrative staff from May until it concludes in December. The district has about a dozen budget coordinators, typically lieutenants, engineers, and firefighters that gain budgeting experience by helping to submit proposals for item requests. The staff use the five-year strategic plan, itemize expenses, complete project appraisals for equipment expenses, use industry standards, and provide explanations for the purchases. Ultimately the requests are submitted to the executive team, and if approved those items are included in the budget by the executive team, he said.

Division Chief of Operations Jonathan Bradley said the district is proposing $16,000 for additional technical rescue equipment (multiple use items), and supplies (single use items), and each budget line item will be managed separately by two staffers. The water/ice rescue boat (at Monument Lake) is human powered, so an insert is being fabricated to attach an electric motor, he said.

Kovacs said the line staff requested winter jackets be included in the 2024 uniform budget proposed at $92,800. The winter jacket requests will be at the discretion of each employee, but the uniform budget will probably not be fully expended because some employees have no need for a storm jacket, he said.

Note: For more detailed budget information see www.ocn.me/v23n10.htm#mfd and the Monument Fire District (MFD) article on page < 12 >. The proposed 2024 budgets for DWFPD and MFD and public notices are available to view at www.monumentfire.org. A public hearing will be held on Nov. 15 at 4:30 p.m. for the DWFPD proposed 2024 budget, followed by the Board of Directors’ final approval. The public hearing for the MFD proposed 2024 budget will be held at 6:30 p.m. the same day, followed by the Board of Directors’ final approval. See footnote for further details.

Chief’s report

Bradley said the following:

  • Staff continue to attend meetings in the region to maintain the district’s voice within the county.
  • An automatic aid agreement with the Pike National Forest in the mutual threat zone (1 mile beyond the MFD/U.S. Forest Service boundary) and all call types are now active with El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch. The district recently assisted with a couple of vehicle rollovers on Mount Herman Road.
  • Battalion Chief Scott Ridings is making progress with gathering accreditation information for the combined district, and the process will require one more year of call data. Thanks to Ridings, the task is over 90% complete.
  • The Community Chipping program completed six chippings in September and has closed until May 2024. The district is already scheduling for the next season.
  • The former Wescott aerial ladder truck received a new transmission replacement and is back in service (in reserve status).
  • An electric tank-to-pump valve, now obsolete, needed to be fabricated for the small water tender which is back in service.
  • The Station 4 air-duct vents were cleaned for about $4,000.

Note: For additional information, see www.ocn.me/v23n10.htm#mfd and see the MFD article on page < 12 >.

The meeting adjourned at 5:57 p.m.

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Meetings are usually held every other month on the fourth Wednesday at Station 1, 18650 Highway 105. The next regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 4:30 p.m. A Pension Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled to precede the regular meeting at 4 p.m. For Zoom meeting 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.

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