The Falcon Fire Protection District held its monthly board meeting Oct. 16 at the Falcon Fire Administration Building at 7030 Old Meridian Road. Joan Fritsche, attorney; Tom Kerby, assistant secretary; Ray Hawkins, treasurer; James Reid, president; Dan Kupferer, vice president; Steve Podoll, secretary; Trent Harwig, chief, attended.
September minutes were unanimously approved.
Treasurer’s report
Harwig presented the numbers through Sept. 2024, with 75% of the fiscal year complete. The department has received 101% of the budgeted general fund revenue. Specific ownership tax revenue is at 83% of the expected revenues. Total expenses in the general fund were at 68% of the expected revenues.
The Ambulance Transport Fund was at 73% of expected revenues. The department recently received payment for the Colorado EMS Medicaid supplement, totaling $522,927, reflecting 93% of the expected revenues in the fund; 74% of budgeted ambulance transport fees has been received. The total expenditures were at 56%, which is expected to increase because of the recent hiring of three full-time paramedics.
The Capital Project fund has received 76% of expected revenues. Expenditures were at 20% with ongoing maintenance building construction. The Rural Water Fund had no new activity.
The report was unanimously passed without discussion.
Staff report
Harwig reported that Deputy Chief Jeff Petersma would be doing EMS reports for the foreseeable future because of EMS Division Chief Jon Webb’s recent deployment to the Middle East.
Petersma presented the Operations Report. So far this year, there have been 2,707 calls — 2,170 were within the district, the remaining were mutual and automatic aid calls. The department was currently 100 calls ahead of last year and 200 fewer than 2022. The average emergency response and emergent response times remained stable.
The board asked Petersma whether the increased aid to Cimarron Hills and increased calls have been an issue. Based on data on calls and aid received, Petersma stated the current workload is sustainable and balanced.
Petersma presented the EMS report. There were 138 transports in September, with an average cash per trip of $535. Year to date has 1,212 transports with an average cash per trip of $598.08; 24-month numbers total 3,231 transports at $613.90 cash per trip. With the supplemental Medicaid reimbursement, this increased to $876.66, compared to the $750 cash per trip estimated when the ambulance program first began in December 2019.
The board discussed whether the estimated cash per trip reflected inflationary and increased expenses over the last few years. Harwig reported that total expenses in 2023 were about $2.5 million with a projected budget of $3 million in 2025.
Lt. Curtis Kauffman presented fire prevention information. Through September, there were 20 building inspections, 21 follow-up inspections, two new projects, one fire finals, one underground hydro test, one partial inspection and five Electronic Development Application Reviews.
Maintenance building update
Harwig presented Hammers Draw Request No. 6 for an amount of $375,075 and it was unanimously approved. He reported that most of the outside concrete has been completed. They are still waiting for Colorado Springs Utilities to run the gas line in the next couple weeks before pouring the remaining concrete. The stucco and stone should be started in the next couple weeks. The final completion date remains Dec. 20.
Sheriff’s Office substation update
Fritsche said she followed up with the deputy county attorney and has not received any updates.
2025 preliminary budget proposal
Harwig presented the preliminary 2025 budget numbers, which are available at district headquarters for review and comment prior to the Dec. 11 budget hearing. The major changes seen in the general fund budget are as follows: Revenue will decrease because of the expiration of the two senate bill backfills in 2024; it will be partially offset by a 3.8% increase in assessed property values, and result in a total decrease in revenue of $1,050,000. As far as changes in expenses, there is a 3.9% increase cost-of-living adjustment for staffing. Total expenses will include a 3.1% increase totaling $376,751, which is based on the projected 2024 increase. The aforementioned revenue shortfall was anticipated and accommodated by decreasing the ambulance transport fund by $400,000 and the capital fund by $650,000.
Harwig explained that the department hasn’t budgeted for the roughly $500,000 in Colorado EMS Medicaid Reimbursement because of the long-term uncertainty in funding, but he included it for 2025. Hawkins said he wasn’t comfortable assuming 100% reimbursement of the Medicaid reimbursement and suggested budgeting a smaller amount.
Primary increases in the ambulance transport fund budget were in salary and benefits, showing a $250,000 increase. Total expenses and expenditures are projected to increase $474,907 (18.4%). The ambulance transport fund has over a year reserve and the general fund has a six-month reserve, reflecting the department’s secure positioning to withstand a sudden loss of Medicaid reimbursement.
Regarding the capital project fund budget, Harwig explained that a significant amount of the projected budget reflects the large expenses rolled over from the previous year, which includes ongoing payments on the maintenance building. For each of the last couple years, there has also been an additional $500,000 budgeted toward paying down the principle of the lease purchase for Station No. 3 and the administration building. This has been rolled over because the bank interest rate has been 1.84% higher than the loan rate of 3%. Based on his discussion with the bank, Harwig said he expects the interest rates to fall over the next year. After a discussion on the pros and cons of making the additional payments versus allowing the money to accrue interest, the board decided to wait until after the election before deciding on what to do with these funds.
Stay connected with the Falcon Fire Protection District
- Website: http://www.falconfirepd.org
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