2017 Budget

The SVFD Board of Fire Commissioners adopted a $38.1 million budget for 2017. The budget allows for modest growth in most programs and includes $4.2 million in capital expenses, up from $2.04 million in 2016, due to the planned construction of relocated Liberty Lake Station 3. Voter approval of the special four-year levy in February 2015 will generate $18.6 million in property tax revenue in 2017.

View the 2017 Budget

Two minor personnel changes will take place in 2017 – the addition of a part-time (80%) administrative assistant (currently a temp agency position) and an increase from part-time (80%) to full-time for the Information Services Specialist position. There are no plans to hire additional firefighters in 2017.

The 2017 budget includes $4.2 million for capital projects:

• • Apparatus – one new aerial ladder truck (ordered in 2016), one new pumper engine, a new rescue boat and two replacement staff vehicles
  • Facilities – Liberty Lake Station 3 ($3 million for construction) and Millwood Station 2 (annual lease payment)
  • Equipment – a variety of operations equipment, along with information systems software and hardware upgrades.

Allocations for pension and medical funds are included in the budget, along with an ending fund balance (reserves) target of $9.8 million.

View the 2016 Budget

Funding

The Spokane Valley Fire Department operates with funding from property tax revenues generated through a Regular Levy and an Excess Levy (Maintenance and Operations – M&O). Voters are asked to approve the Excess Levy every four years, which provides about 52 percent of the Department’s funding for maintenance, operations and capital projects. The Total Levy Rate (Regular + Excess) in 2017 is $3.11 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation, a decrease of nearly 2% from 2016.