The Wood River Fire District, which funds the Wood River Fire & Rescue department, has cut its budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year.
Chief Bart Lassman announced Tuesday that a shortfall in property valuations throughout the district led the fire district commissioners to cut more than $20,000 from the proposed budget, approving an approximately $689,000 budget, down from the proposed figure of just over $709,600.
Under state law, the district could have taxed for as much as $774,000.
"This is not the time to add to the burden of being a property owner," said Commissioner Jay Bailet, who is also district treasurer.
With the contract for ambulance service, the total Wood River Fire & Rescue budget for the upcoming year, which runs from Oct. 1, 2009, through Sept. 30, 2010, is $1.7 million, up slightly from the current $1.6 million overall budg
Lassman said the cuts would not have an adverse effect on levels of service, and that the decreased funding would come mostly out of the department's capital account, which includes funding for vehicle replacement and building maintenance.
"Until we see some form of relief to these economic times, we're just going to have to make ends meet with whatever revenues are collected," Lassman said. "I agree completely with [the commissioners'] decision to hold the line and not increase spending."
Jon Duval: jduval@mtexpress.com