The Falcon Fire Protection District held its monthly board meeting Oct. 21 at the Falcon Fire Administration Building on 7030 Old Meridian Road. Joan Fritsche, attorney; James Reid, assistant secretary; Ray Hawkins, treasurer; Tom Kerby, president; Steve Podoll, secretary; Trent Harwig, chief, attended. Dan Kupferer, vice president, attended remotely.
August minutes
The board unanimously approved the August minutes.
New firefighters sworn in
Fire Fighter Griffin Cole and Eric Koehler were sworn in by Chief Harwig.
Treasurer’s report
Harwig presented the numbers through September 2026, representing 75% of the fiscal year. The General Fund was at 97% of anticipated revenues. Total expenses were at 70% of expected. The Ambulance Transport Fund was at 89% of anticipated revenues, which included Medicaid reimbursement at $140,090 in excess of budgeted. Total expenses were at 59% of expected, primarily due to paramedics being absent under disability and workers’ compensation claims. The Capital Project Fund had received 74% of expected revenues. Total expenses were at 63% of expected. The ladder truck arrived and was recently paid off. The Rural Water Fund had no new activity and is under budget. The board unanimously passed the report.
Staff report
Battalion Chief Joe Cosgrove presented the operations and EMS reports.
In the August operations report, there were 376 calls. For the year, there were 2,892 calls, of which 2,351 calls belonged to the district. The overall volume is on par with last year.
In the September EMS report, there were 238 transports and an average cash per trip of $581.85. Year-to-date had 1,892 total transports with an average of $682.86 cash per trip; 24-month totals showed 3,553 transports with a cash per trip of $689.24. With Medicaid reimbursement, the cash per trip was $824.78.
Lt. Curtis Kauffman presented the Fire Prevention Report. In September, there were 14 building inspections, six follow-up inspections, four partial/rough/fire finals, and six Electronic Development Application Reviews.
Harwig informed the board that the new ladder truck had arrived, and training for it will commence.
Pension Board election update
Fritsche notified the board that there are two retired volunteer firefighter trustee positions, but the pool of remaining volunteer firefighters is small and so there are currently no new candidates to fill the spots.
Training center site updates
Harwig said the site development plan drawings are still ongoing. Kupferer continues to work on the replat and the vacation of the right-of-way with plans to complete this by the end of the month.
Wildfire Resiliency Code
Harwig said he is about ready to submit revisions to the state.
2027 proposed budget
Harwig presented the 2027 proposed budget. Overall revenue is projected to remain unchanged. Property tax revenues have increased 4.8% over the last two years but expenses have increased 12%, leading to the use of reserves. The budget is based on a 4% cost of living increase for employees. Harwig proposed transferring $3 million (up from $2.6 last year) from the general to the Capital Projects Fund for training center construction, which will be a full cash payment. In the Ambulance Transport Fund, there is no additional new expenses.
Because the current rate of expenses at this time outpaces incoming revenues, Harwig suggested proposing a public safety sales tax to help future funding. He had spoken with the district’s independent insurance representative who said nearly all districts, including Cimarron Hills’s 1% sales tax initiative, had been successful on this front. With current growth and shopping trends, he said that a .5% tax projected an additional $2 million in revenue.
Fritsche said the earliest this could be put on the ballot would be May 2027 but November 2027 would also be an option. It would be a county coordinated initiative. It would also include Amazon sales.
Cosgrove said that in 2019 with the mill levy increase, the district spent a year educating the public, which likely contributed to its success. Cimarron Hills had similar success last year after a year educating the public before placing it on the ballot. The year prior they did it on short notice and it did not pass.
Based on 2019 estimates, the board discussed how the cost of adding this to a future ballot could cost at least $100,000. The district currently has nine months to a year worth of reserves, which takes into account the anticipated training tower construction and recent vehicle acquisitions. Harwig said he does not anticipate any other additional major departmental purchases in the near future.
Harwig told the board he recently lost a lieutenant who got an additional $15,000 from another department. Kerby said that in addition to keeping salaries competitive, there was also a need to preserve a good work culture as part of addressing retention.
