The Snohomish County Fire District 7 board of commissioners adopted the district’s budget as proposed during its Dec. 11 meeting.
The $8.7 million budget, up from $8 million this year, won’t be enough to add any new firefighter or paramedic positions in the next year, but no layoffs will take place, either.
Rising costs for medical insurance and the state’s department of labor and industry costs are partly behind the department’s decision not to hire additional personnel.
Fire chief Rick Eastman has said the department’s costs in both areas are increasing by 18 percent next year.
“The money’s just not there (to add personnel),” Eastman said.
However, voter approval of the district’s property tax levies in November will ensure no personnel are let go, Eastman said. The two levies, which go almost entirely to personnel costs, are expected to bring in close to $7 million next year.
In addition to property taxes, the district gets funding from other sources, such as a $1 million annual fee as part of a contract with the city of Mill Creek to provide fire protection services.
Fire District 7 serves the city of Mill Creek and surrounding areas in unincorporated Snohomish County.
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