The Lebanon Fire District Board of Directors approved a $15.3 million budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 during its May 13 meeting.
In his budget message, Fire Chief Joseph Rodondi stated the LFD faces a structural budget deficit with a projected shortfall of $858,450 for the next fiscal year. He noted that the 2016 Master Plan identified that expenses were growing slightly faster than revenue, and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the trend.
LFD, as its own special district and unassociated with the City of Lebanon, relies on four primary revenue sources: property taxes, which are limited due to state measures; ambulance fees, which amount to an average of $3 million collected of $9 million billed due to Medicare and Medicaid write-offs; grants; and reserve funds carried over from the previous year.
Facing a growing budget gap, service reductions and reorganization are expected, including reorganizing personnel and reduction of available ambulance units. The proposed budget allocates its monies as $7.6 million in salaries and benefits, $3 million in debt and contingencies, $2.3 million in materials and supplies, $1.4 million in capital assets, and almost $1 million in special payments (retiree expenses, leave reserves, etc.).
In other business:
- The board approved a resolution for line item transfers for the current fiscal year;
- The board heard a financial report. Chief Administrative Officer Desiree Barker reported LFD received an unexpected $17,000 grant for cyber security risk management, obtained by the City of Lebanon’s IT department.
- Rodondi shared that during the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association conference May 8, Connor Fitzgerald, Kyle Kemper, Londyn Randall and Michael Maynard received a unit citation from the Oregon State Fire Chief for their rescue efforts at an adult care home last year.
- Rodondi reported they are working toward a possible agreement with the City of Lebanon to be able to rent or purchase vehicles through the Enterprise fleet program.
- The board considered an opportunity to lease out space to South Santiam Watershed Council. After an executive session on the matter, the board determined they were not interested in being “landlords,” and the responsibilities that come with that.