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South Metro Fire Rescue outlines budget shortfall, asks communities to weigh tax options
Summary
South Metro Fire Rescue officials told Centennial council they face an immediate budget shortfall driven by rising costs and recent state legislation, and are exploring options including service cuts, a property tax increase up to 3 mills, or a new sales tax of roughly 0.5% across the district.
South Metro Fire Rescue board chair Jim Albee told the Centennial City Council on April 15 that the department faces a growing budget gap worsened by recent legislation and rising costs for personnel, equipment and apparatus.
Albee and South Metro staff said the district covers roughly 570,000 residents with 800 personnel and 30 stations and relies heavily on property tax revenue. They said property taxes supply about 80% of the district’s revenue, and recent changes at the state level have reduced property tax receipts to the department by millions in 2025 and are projected to deepen the shortfall in 2026 without new revenue or cuts.
Why it matters: council members pressed South Metro on how the shortfall could affect service levels and homeowners’ insurance. South Metro emphasized that the district’s ability to maintain response times and staffing is at stake if revenue does not increase or alternative funding is found.
Albee asked councils to consider three broad options the district is studying: cuts to…
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