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Gallatin County approves $725 unit fee for Fort Ellis to fund one‑year contract with Highlight Fire
Summary
The Gallatin County Commission voted to raise the Fort Ellis Fire Service Area unit fee from $600 to $725 to fund a one‑year professional services agreement with Highlight Fire District as the districts explore consolidation; supporters say it preserves emergency response while critics warned of repeated tax increases and urged more community engagement.
The Gallatin County Commission on July 22 approved a resolution to raise the Fort Ellis Fire Service Area unit fee from $600 to $725 to fund a one‑year professional services agreement with Highlight Fire District.
Board chair Norbert Hackle told the commission the area is an all‑volunteer department facing recruitment and leadership challenges after recent retirements and the construction and debt service on a new station. ‘‘We are an all volunteer fire department, and that is a staffing model that is harder and harder to maintain,’’ Hackle said, describing the $125 per‑unit increase as money to pay for a professional services contract to provide a chief, training officer and apparatus maintenance while the districts consider consolidation.
The move followed sustained public comment both for and against the increase. Fort Ellis Chief Frank Boynton, who said he plans to retire, argued the agreement would help maintain service levels and provide continuity for volunteers. ‘‘Firefighter retention is my highest priority as we go through this,’’ Boynton said. Several current and former volunteer leaders, including deputy chief Buck Taylor and training officer Karen Spear, described high training and equipment costs and said they supported the contract as a pragmatic step.
Opponents urged greater oversight and alternative solutions. Jacqueline Leipscher, speaking for four property owners, called the fee hikes ‘‘incremental tax hikes that are burdening the taxpayers’’ and questioned whether the board had explored partnerships with other agencies or more transparent community engagement before asking for another increase.
County commissioners debated the equity of a flat per‑unit fee compared with a property‑value assessment and voiced reluctance about raising charges on low‑income and mobile‑home owners. Commissioner Brown said the flat assessment is ‘‘unconscionable’’ for lower‑value homes but said the fee increase is necessary as a short‑term measure while the county and district pursue a longer‑term conversion to a district or RID that would apportion costs by property value.
The resolution (2025‑066) passed on a voice vote. County staff and Fort Ellis leaders told the commission the adopted increase will appear on FY26 tax bills this November and that the current year budget covers nine months of the professional services contract; the county and Fort Ellis board said they expect to return next year to request funding for 12 months if the trial contract continues. Officials estimated conversion to a district and a full restructuring could take two to five years.
Next steps: Implementation of the professional services agreement and continued public outreach by Fort Ellis and Highlight officials as they evaluate consolidation options.
