FD 13 approves 2023 budget

The special Friday morning hybrid meeting at which Fire District 13 commissioners approved a 2023 budget lasted just 20 minutes.

But the real hard work crafting the fiscal plan of slightly more than $1.6 million and operating expenses nearing $1.4 million took place in the weeks before Nov. 18.

Chairman Bruce Shellhamer praised district secretary Tracy Berg and Fire Chief Wood Weiss for preliminary work in developing the budget.

"Tracy and Chief Weiss have been working hard on this," said Shellhamer. "They've done a great job coming up with an efficient budget that gives us flexibility in these uncertain times."

Weiss said the primary need was a workable budget that allows the district to deliver all necessary firefighting and emergency medical services on a "24/7" basis.

District budget projections for 2022 have proved on the money thus far. Just over $1 million in expenses were penciled in for the entire year. Through Nov. 10, expenses stood at about $840,000, according to the finance report Berg provided commissioners Friday.

Two District 13 career firefighter positions are budgeted in 2023, a response to staff leaving for jobs at larger fire departments. Those firefighter salaries total $112,000.

In addition, the district plans to launch a community paramedicine component next year with two paid positions totaling $164,000. One includes firefighting duties.

On the capital side of the budget, the main item will be the firefighter housing unit planned for the Snee-Oosh Road station. That project continues to wind through the permitting process, commissioner John Doyle said Friday.

Only $111,325 has been spent of $300,000 budgeted in 2022 for the housing unit line item. The 2023 budget estimates $200,000 being spent on the long-sought station upgrade.

"Everybody seems amenable to making it work," said Doyle, who this week was scheduled to meet and discuss permit procedures with Swinomish Indian Tribal Community officials.