Funding for 5 percent salary increases and design work for the proposed new Bayview fire station are included in the 2015 budget for South Whidbey Fire/EMS.
The draft document was presented publicly for the first time Thursday, at a workshop with the fire district’s board of commissioners. The board is expected to vote on the final budget at 5:30 p.m. next Thursday, Nov. 13, at the district’s headquarters in Freeland.
Amid a tight $2.5 million operational budget, Chief Rusty Palmer fought for 3.5 percent raises and 1.5 percent cost of living adjustments for full-time staff. That $26,000 change would affect three deputy chiefs and administrative staff. Palmer, a contracted employee, is not subject to those wage adjustments but does receive an annual 1.5 percent cost of living increase.
“The staff has not received an increase other than cost of living increases in quite some time,” Palmer said, later explaining that it was about 10 years since a raise was awarded.
“I think it’s time to put some spending into our most valuable resource, and that’s our people,” he added.
During a budget workshop Thursday, the commissioners tried to trim upcoming expenses to ensure the fire protection district would have money left for reserve. It was facing a $71,000 deficit in 2015, though Palmer said he expects that to be more than covered by savings from this year, which he estimated to currently have more than $140,000.
The exact figure for projected expenses in 2015 is $3,885,583. Of that, $2,559,133 is slated for operations — a nearly $60,000 decrease in spending from this year. Revenue is expected to be $3,185,542, though nearly $700,000 goes into the district’s capital fund. The remaining operational revenue is estimated at $2,487,751.
Despite being a public meeting, only staff were at the workshop ahead of the forthcoming public hearing on the budget next week. Palmer told the commissioners that the deputy chiefs were at the high end of average pay for their positions in Washington, and that the other employees were at the low end of average pay. He supported the raises because they handle more calls compared to other similarly sized fire protection districts, such as Central Whidbey, he said.
“These guys have far greater responsibility, partly because of the number of people and number of calls,” Palmer said.
Commissioner Mike Helland, after asking for the chief to reduce the raise percent, turned to the fire district staff to say he supported and appreciated their work and dedication, but that times were tough and the budget did not allow for more money.
“We have dual responsibility,” Helland said. “It’s not that we don’t support staff.”
“I wish we had bigger pockets,” he added.
In all, South Whidbey Fire/EMS expects to have a little less than $2.5 million in operational revenue and just over $2.5 million in operational expenses next year. The difference will be made up in the cash carryover from this year.
A few major capital expenses are slated for 2015, such as the purchase of two $300,000 water tenders. They will replace existing district vehicles over 27 years old.
“We’re getting to a point where it’s getting more difficult to find parts for them; their mechanical failure rate is increasing,” Palmer said.
The other is $300,000 for design work and building permits on the proposed Bayview fire station on Bayview Road near Good Cheer Food Bank and the Bayview School.
Palmer is also slated to have the district-owned truck he uses as a command vehicle replaced. Per a district policy to guide replacement of vehicles and buildings, Palmer’s truck is nearing its 10-year/150,000-mile threshold by year’s end, necessitating the search for a new truck.
The district’s budget is not available online, but Palmer said copies can be made and picked up at the Freeland office, and that he’d happily speak with people about the South Whidbey Fire/EMS budget, which he referred to as “their budget.”
