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Elko County Fire Commissioners adopt 2025–26 operating budget with roughly 12% reserve
Summary
The Board of Fire Commissioners approved a $6.1 million operating budget for fiscal year 2025–26 that leaves an estimated $738,000 ending fund balance (about 12% of expenditures); the final figures may change if an agreement with the city of Wells is adopted and if grant revenues materialize.
The Board of Fire Commissioners approved the fire district’s fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget during a regular meeting, adopting $6.1 million in expenditures and an estimated $738,000 ending fund balance, about 12% of expenditures.
Susan, finance staff for the fire district, told the board the budget shows a beginning fund balance of $1.3 million, revenues of $5.5 million and expenditures of $6.1 million, leaving the $738,000 ending balance. She said the final budget differs from the tentative budget mainly because of a potential agreement with the city of Wells that, if adopted, would change both revenues and expenditures. “We are anticipating a beginning fund balance of 1,300,000, revenues of 5,500,000, expenditures of 6,100,000, leaving an ending fund balance of 738,000, which is about 12% of expenditures,” Susan said.
The board discussed the reserve level and policy. A commissioner asked whether the district was intentionally reducing fund balance year over year, noting the 2023–24 balance had been about $2.2 million. Susan explained the district typically does not budget for grants or net proceeds because those revenues are not guaranteed; when grants arrive, they inflate the fund balance but are recorded as automatic augmentations during the year. She said the county’s internal goal is to maintain an ending fund balance between 8% and 12% of general fund expenditures to ensure at least one month of operating reserves. “8.3 is about one month of operation so that’s where we try to keep right around between 8–12% for our ending fund balance, which would ensure at least a month of operations in a catastrophic event,” Susan said.
A motion to approve the 2025–26 budget as presented was moved and seconded and carried on an aye vote. The record did not list a roll-call tally by name in the transcript.
The finance staff also noted the fire district maintains a separate emergency fund funded to a $1,000,000 maximum; that fund is budgeted each year as available for spending in emergencies rather than being counted as an ending general fund balance. Susan said the budget does not assume grant revenues or net proceeds; if the district receives such funds during the year, they will increase the fund balance through mid-year augmentations.
Board members had no further comment and moved on to other agenda items.
