Island County fire District 3 commissioners are expected to finalize the department’s 2011 budget at their meeting this week.

The commissioners will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, at the Freeland Fire Station, 5535 Cameron Road.

This year’s proposed budget is about $2.6 million, down slightly from 2010.

Fire Chief Rusty Palmer said, however, that because of a decline in assessed valuation of property in the district, there is a $111,000 shortfall that will be felt as the year goes along.

Also on Thursday’s agenda will be discussion of the district’s grant application for $210,000 for a new fireboat, an update of the district’s latest citizen survey and proposed new names for the department, and continued discussion of plans for a new headquarters and training facility at Bayview.