Douglas County reviews Consolidated Fire District 1 2026 budget, considers half-mill increase for staffing

The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners received a presentation July 30 on the 2026 budget for Consolidated Fire District 1 (CFD 1), including two scenarios: a 5.5-mill budget that reflects the package originally in the commissioners’ packet and a 6.0-mill option that would add ongoing staffing capacity and reduce the need to use equipment reserves for recurring payroll.

County staff member Sean Peterson presented the budgetary details, saying the district covers roughly 288 square miles and that the difference between 5.5 mills and 6.0 mills would raise about $158,000 for CFD 1 in 2026. He noted that a half-mill increase would amount to about $1.44 per month on a $300,000 home, or about $17.25 per year.

Why it matters: Commissioners and CFD 1 leaders said staffing shortfalls are the district’s most critical problem. Under the 6.0-mill scenario staff and the fire chief said the money would fund two additional full-time 24-hour firefighter positions at Station 111 and permit conversion of a 40-hour Lecompton position to 24/7 coverage, moving the district toward a three-shift model with additional supervisory (battalion chief) capacity.

Key budget details and planned uses - Personnel constitutes about 46% of CFD 1’s budget, the presentation said. The…