SILVERDALE — Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue commissioners are scheduled Monday, Nov. 9, to adopt a 2027 budget that spends about $7 million more from the general fund than the district expects to take in, using reserves to finish building Station 41.
Across all funds, the proposed budget totals $59.6 million in spending, up 11.3% from $53.5 million in 2026, according to the district’s budget book. That figure includes transfers between district funds, and the district says the increase is driven mainly by construction and completion of Station 41.
Reserves fall to near the minimum
The general fund, which pays for day-to-day operations, is budgeted at $49.9 million in spending against $43 million in revenue. About $10.6 million of the spending is construction-related, for Stations 41, 42 and 64.
The district says the gap reflects a planned spend-down of general fund cash above its minimum policy level to pay for Station 41 costs that go beyond available bond money. The general fund balance is projected to drop from $20.6 million to $13.5 million by the end of 2027, a 34.8% decrease, which the budget describes as “near the policy minimum.”
Stripping out construction, the district says its operating budget is structurally balanced: $39.3 million in operating spending, up 5.5%, against $39.6 million in operating revenue. Chief Business Officer Tim Maule told commissioners in October that balancing the operating budget took about $1.2 million to $1.5 million in reductions, according to meeting minutes.
Leaning on GEMT money
The budget counts on $3.8 million from GEMT, a program that reimburses ambulance transports of Medicaid patients, up from $2.2 million budgeted this year. The budget book says the district “will be much less conservative in budgeting for GEMT in 2027.”
At the Oct. 28 public hearing, commissioners asked whether relying on that money is risky if federal funding changes. Staff said the money is needed to balance operations and that Washington’s GEMT arrangement is expected to hold up against federal cuts, according to the minutes. No one from the public commented at that hearing.
Staffing and taxes
Authorized staffing drops to 140 full-time equivalent positions. Firefighting and emergency medical staffing stays the same; the vacated chief administrative officer job becomes a human resources manager, and a vacant wellness coordinator position won’t be filled in 2027. Six apprentice positions from a 2026 pilot become firefighter/EMT jobs.
Commissioners will also certify the property taxes the district will ask the county to collect in 2027: $24.7 million for the regular fire levy, $7.2 million for the EMS levy and $3.8 million to repay voter-approved station construction bonds, about $35.6 million in all, based on preliminary county assessor estimates. The EMS levy resolution authorizes no increase over last year beyond new construction.
The district’s regular levy rate is capped at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value, and staff estimated in October that the cap keeps the district from collecting about $1.2 million it would otherwise be allowed, according to the minutes.
Health plan and training tower
Also on the agenda, Fire Chief Jay Christian is asking for approval to move district health coverage from the Washington Fire Commissioners Association plan to the LEOFF Health & Welfare Trust starting Jan. 1. A district committee had been looking at plan changes to deal with projected premium increases, according to October minutes.
Christian is also asking the board to let him end the Station 41 training tower agreement with Safeware Inc. and Forcible Entry, effective Nov. 14, under a termination clause in the contract. The packet does not explain the reason or any cost.
The board meets at 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at the district administration building, 5300 NW Newberry Hill Road, Silverdale, and remotely; the link is at ckfr.org. Public comment is limited to three minutes, and speakers are asked to give their name and address.
Leave a Reply