Central Fire budget approved for 2026
All seven municipalities that make up the Central Fire and EMS District have signed off on the district’s 2026 budget, making for a quick monthly meeting last Thursday.
At the 11-minute meeting, each of the seven district board members confirmed that their respective boards and councils had voted to approve the budget, which will include a total contribution of $289,591 from the cities of Abbotsford and Colby, the village of Dorchester and the towns of Colby, Mayville, Holton and Hull.
“Our budget is approved,” said chairman Larry Oehmichen. “We don’t have to work on the budget and kick it back to the municipalities for another vote, so that’s all done.”
The increase in municipal contributions will be relatively minimal next year, with Abbotsford, Colby and Dorchester paying a little less and the four townships kicking in slightly more due to fluctuations in equalized property values, which are used to calculate each municipality’s share of the budget.
Other revenue sources include $375,000 in projected charges for ambulance calls, $19,000 each from the village of Unity and town of Frankfort, $28,000 in 2% dues collected from fire insurance policies, and $16,000 in fire service fees. All together, the district is expected to take in $737,600 in revenue next year, with an equal amount of expenditures projected.
Other business
■ Colby Ald. Todd Schmidt, filling in for district treasurer Jason Lindeman, reported about $150,500 in the district’s checking account, with $199,000 in its money market and $250,000 in a certificate of deposit.
■ The board approved $10,347 in monthly bills.
■ During his monthly report, district chief Joe Mueller said the district responded to 81 ambulance calls and three fire calls during the past month. He said the district’s firefighters had responded to a tractor fire the night of the meeting and were called to assist the Loyal Fire Department with a shed fire the day before.
Mueller said the district’s EMTs have responded to 626 calls so far this year, and if that pace stays the same, it will be just short of the estimated 900.
