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Wasatch County Fire District approves preliminary 2025 budget, adds 12 firefighters and raises capitalization threshold
Summary
Board approved a preliminary budget and set a Dec. 10 hearing; staff will add 12 full‑time firefighters for a new station, a full‑time inspector, seasonal fuels mitigation positions, and move forward with capital projects while keeping the mill levy unchanged.
The Wasatch County Fire Protection Special Service District board on a voice vote adopted the district's preliminary 2025 budget during its November meeting and set a public budget hearing for Dec. 10 at 6:00 p.m. Staff presented assumptions that include keeping the mill levy unchanged while recognizing a larger, full‑year sales tax receipt in 2025.
Finance staff (Kirsten) told the board that sales tax receipts were partial in the current year (about $3.5 million) and that the district expects roughly $6 million in sales tax revenue in 2025. She also noted an expected reduction in interest revenue of about $100,000 due to falling interest rates and that certain Medicare Part B payments for ambulance services are delayed but expected to arrive before year‑end.
Chief Hales and staff described program and staffing changes in the draft budget: addition of 12 full‑time firefighters to staff the new station, one full‑time fire inspector to support prevention work, and a new seasonal fuels‑mitigation program that would hire seasonal employees (college‑age or adult workers) to support chipping and fuels reduction for HOAs and wildland‑urban interface projects. The budget also includes a 3% COLA and step increases for personnel, expanded training and tuition support (including sending two additional personnel to paramedic school), and capital outlays for Station 56 (Hideout) and other future stations.
"We are contributing to our fund balance and putting about $1.7 to $1.8 million into capital," staff said, noting the plan to self‑fund some station builds without issuing bonds. The district also reported holding a $15 million CIB award in its capital fund longer than anticipated, which increased interest income earlier in the year.
In a separate but related vote the board approved Resolution 2403, raising the district's capitalization threshold from $10,000 to $15,000 to reflect rising costs; the motion to adopt Resolution 2403 was made by Eric and seconded by Carl and passed by voice vote.
The board discussed the district's recent decision to end the South Summit ambulance contract (transition planned for Jan. 1) and reabsorb personnel; staff said this will reduce revenue tied to that contract but also return staffing capacity to the district. Members also discussed bank account fraud attempts that recently targeted the district's accounts; staff said funds were recovered and that they will meet with bank representatives to evaluate additional safeguards (Zions bank was discussed).
Next steps: the board set the public budget hearing for Dec. 10 at 6:00 p.m.; staff will return with detailed financials, further cost breakdowns and recommendations on bank safeguards and capital project timelines.
