Fire Fund: 11.5% Increase

Fire Fund: Since 2006, spending in the fire department has increased 11.50% compared to a Consumer Price Index increase of 10.24% (from December 2005 to December 2008; I'm using December because that is realistically when we finalize our budget and what we expect to spend for the following year). The 11.50% increase includes the addition of 5 new firefighters as per the March 2008 Levy Proposal approved by voters. That means we will increase manpower without going significantly outside of inflation.

This was possible through diligent review of expenditures, careful planning and fiscal restraint. With cost efficiencies and fiscal discipline, we were able to 1) stop the borrowing the fire department had become dependent upon; 2) hire 5 new firefighters; 3) begin to repay the general fund the monies the Fire Department had borrowed and perhaps most importantly, 4) maintained the quality service our community expects and deserves.