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opment. The budgets are actually a compilation of actual expenses from the prior six month period, with long-term capital expenditures accounted for the duration of the loans.
The fire chiefs meet twice a year to discuss their budgets and present them for preliminary review by the RFRA Chiefs Committee. Members who are more experienced advise and train less experienced members so that their presentations are clear and concise. They also review each individual bill submitted for reimbursement. Only a biannual rollup from each company is submitted to the FLB.
If the company’s justification is incomplete or the FLB has additional questions that require research, the board can table an individual expense for review later.
Budget development is gradually becoming more sophisticated as chiefs become more skilled in prioritizing and formally justifying their companies’ needs. Improved computer accounting software in use at each station is helping, too, although computer upgrades themselves constitute a significant expense not covered by the fire levy.
After presenting their budgets to the FLB, each fire chief and company treasurer must then repeat the process for the county board of supervisors. The board of supervisors can also overturn decisions made at the FLB level.
There are alternatives to the fire levy and FLB system. Some counties and hospitals are billing people for services, such as ambulance trips, to offset costs. Burke is opposed, particularly for the general homeowner. “That’s not volunteer anymore. We do this as a service to the community,’’ he said.
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