The Idyllwild Fire Protection District Finance Committee will begin investigating the possibility of consolidating existing debt and new loans for acquiring new ambulances and water tenders.<\/p>\n
At the Aug. 4 meeting, Fire Chief Patrick Reitz asked the committee to begin examining the district\u2019s options for paying off existing loans for two brush trucks and heart monitors.<\/p>\n
These debts total $213,800. The outstanding balance on the two engines is about $173,300 and the balance is for heart monitors purchased in 2010.<\/p>\n
Also, Reitz recommended the committee plan for several vehicle purchases, financed with loans and, thus, part of the total financing package, Reitz said.<\/p>\n
The top priority is a new ambulance and possibly a second ambulance within a year or two. Also, IFPD is considering purchasing one or two water tenders.<\/p>\n
Reitz said the new ambulance could be \u201ca demonstration unit returned to service after being rebuilt\u201d or a previously used ambulance with a replaced chassis. \u201cWe want an option that maximizes taxpayers\u2019 benefits,\u201d he told the committee.<\/p>\n
When asked about disposing of the existing ambulances, he replied that several options were available, including keeping one in reserve.<\/p>\n
Cost estimates for the ambulances are between $105,000 and $150,000, depending on how new or pristine the vehicle. Water tenders may cost about $65,000 each.<\/p>\n
Commissioner Nancy Layton, committee chair, appointed citizen committee members Sue Weisbart and Calvin Gogerty to a subcommittee to pursue the financing options. They hope to have an initial report at the committee\u2019s September meeting.<\/p>\n
In other business, the committee recommended a proposed 2014-15 budget to the IFPD Commission for review at the August meeting and approval at the September meeting.<\/p>\n
Estimated revenues total $1,932,600, an increase of $184,800 (10.6 percent) more than received in fiscal 2013-14, which ended June 30. Expenditures are estimated to total about $1,805,378, or $73,800 more than last year.<\/p>\n
As a result IFPD anticipates a net surplus of about $126,000 this fiscal year. IFPD\u2019s operating budget generated a $16,200 net surplus last fiscal year, in addition to carrying over $218,000 from the sale of a cell tower lease.<\/p>\n
The committee agreed to hold its regular meetings on the first Tuesday of each month, a week before the regular commission meeting. The Finance Committee will convene next at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Idyllwild Fire Protection District Finance Committee will begin investigating the possibility of consolidating existing debt and new loans for acquiring new ambulances and water tenders. At the Aug. 4 meeting, Fire Chief Patrick Reitz asked the committee to begin examining the district\u2019s options for paying off existing loans for two brush trucks and heart […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":31637,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"amp_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n