In November, a community task force pulled together by the Evergreen Fire Department began meeting to study and make recommendations to the district board about significant financial concerns impacting the district.

According to Fire Chief Mike Weege, the final meeting in January 2016 was also the District Board meeting.  "There was a lot of discussion again about expanding the capability of EMS (Emergency Medical Services) to include the upcoming Community Paramedicine.  There is legislation in the works that would define Community Paramedicine and put it under the control of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

"The District Board felt there are too many moving parts and too many unknowns about the future of pre-hospital care to support dividing the fire department by breaking off EMS."

The task force did support the fire department's need for additional funding, Weege reported.

Overview of revenue shortfalls: 

• Dramatic decrease in property taxes (2011-2015)
• EMS billing as a result of
• No-fault auto insurance (shifting medical coverage from auto insurance to a person's healthcare policy)
• Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Medicare assignment rule phased in over 4 years, reducing from 80% to 50% to 30% to 0)
• Government Sequestration in 2013 (loss of 6% of the total reimbursement of Medicare over 2 years; plus decreases and expiration of rural bonuses)
• The Affordable Care Act (Medicare and Medicaid are essentially unfunded mandates
• in Evergreen 68% of EMS patients are 60 or older and Medicaid patients have increased 530% in past 2 years
• mandated write-offs were projected to be $510,000 in 2015, approximately 1/3 of what was invoiced)
• Strategic Planning focusing on wildfire protection and prevention 

Part 3 of a series on financial concerns of the Fire District

The Evergreen Fire Protection District (EFPD) has called together a Community Task Force to address declining revenues and its inability to keep pace with increases in operating costs and to fund Reserves. Replacement of Fire Station #1 is also being proposed.

Background:

• Station #1 was built in 1965; 50 years old.
• It is located just south of the dam.  Proximity to historic downtown important.
• Previously used to house administrative offices, now located at Station #2 in Bergen Park.
• Currently stores seven trucks for structure and wildland fires.

Reasons why Station #1 outdated:

• Bay door openings not large enough for modern fire equipment
• Apron out front too small for largest truck to pull out – nose sticks out into traffic when closing garage door.
• Plumbing and electrical needing replacement.
• Roofing has had temporary fixes
• Windows and siding require replacement
• Back-up generator requires replacement

Other considerations:

• Footprint too small for enlarging at that location.
• Parking across Hwy 73 necessitates firefighters crossing the highway.
• Wouldn’t need administrative offices.
• Would need sleeping quarters, kitchen, conference/training area.
• Plans to widen Hwy. 73 south of the fire station do not currently include the area that close to town, but it is a bottleneck.

Options:

• Replace Station #4 at the S curves along Hwy 73 with a larger building.
• Or find another parcel of land close to downtown.
• Ask voters to approve a bond in 2016. This would be separate from a mil levy request.

The Community Task Force will meet a third and final time this week to review the need to replace/update Station #1.

Read related articles  

Part 1 - Serious shortfall in fire district revenues cause for concern

Part 2 - Fire district concerns

The Evergreen Fire Protection District (EFPD) has called together a Community Task Force to address declining revenues and its inability to keep pace with increases in operating costs and to fund Reserves.

Last week, we outlined where revenues come from and how revenues have been impacted in recent years. (See previous article by clicking here.)

The fire district has responded by cutting its budget to keep expenses flat, but the cost of doing business has increased while revenues are dropping. Additional cuts would mean cutting services. Remedies being considered:

• A mil levy increase to support operations and a bond to fund the remodel/reconstruction of Station 1.
• Formation of a Health Services District separate from the fire district
• EFPD would charge for rent, maintenance, dispatching
• EFPD could lease ambulances to the Health Services District

Possible revenue sources:

• Mil levy.
• Sales Tax. Legislation change is being targeted for early 2016 to allow Special Districts to charge a sales tax in the same manner Health Service Districts can.
• Possible bond issue in 2016
• The formation of a separate taxing district, a Health Services District, which would separate EMS from EFR.

Voters would need to approve any or all of the above.

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