Iowa League 17 Fire Department Funding and Management

#Iowa. League 17 Fire Department Funding and Management Patrick Callahan Handouts and presentations are available through the event app and at www. iowaleague. org.

Overview of workshop • • • Review of Issues and Concerns Fire Department Funding Fire Department Management Combination Career & Volunteer Department Comments and Observations

Background & Experience • Overall career – 43 years • City Manager/City Administrator – 21 years • Municipal Consultant – IPA & CMC – 22 years

Fire Department – Issues and Concerns • Recruit & Retain Volunteers • Increasing number of calls • Annual funding issues - $8. 10 – limit

Fire Department – Issues and Concerns • Cost of equipment & trucks • Training requirements • Communications – internal & external

Fire Department Funding • Annual operating expenses – general fund levy • FICA & IPERS – special levy • Trucks & equipment – debt service levy

Fire Department Funding • Township payments • Service fees – emerging trend • Donations & bequests

State Mandates – Fire Protection • • • Cities – Section 364. 16 – Code of Iowa Each city shall provide fire protection Townships – Section 359. 42 – Code of Iowa Each township shall provide fire protection Emergency Medical Services – Optional

Township Payments– Fire Protection • “Vendor/Customer” relationship • Need 28 E Agreement • ISU Fire Service Institute Funding Formula

Township Payments– Fire Protection • Funding Formula – Three factors • Population, Taxable Value, & Fire Calls • Equal weight – Average %

Township Payments Formula Share of Costs – Township % TV + % TC + % Pop – Total Divided by 3 = % of Budget

Property Taxes – Primary Source • • General fund - $8. 10 limit Special levy – FICA costs Insurance levy – Fire Department portion Debt service levy – Trucks

Township Payments – Fire Protection • • Section 359. 43 – Code of Iowa Levy limit – 40. 50 cents/$1, 000 Additional levy – 20. 25 cents/$1, 000 Township trustees set the levy

Service Fees • • Tax revenues no longer adequate Fee structure – fire & rescue calls Base Costs – (Taxes) & Call Costs (User fees) Analogies – User fees for other services

Fire Department Management 1. Ordinance – emergency services 2. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Manual 3. Nonprofit Corporation – Volunteers 4. Bylaws for nonprofit corporation

Fire Department Management 5. Township – 28 E Agreement 6. City /Township Cost Sharing Plan 7. Mutual Aid Agreements 8. Capital Improvement Plan – Fire Department

Fire Department Management 9. Equipment/Truck Replacement Plan 10. Budget preparation process 11. Annual financial report 12. Model resolutions for above items

Combination Career & Volunteer Department • Similar & unique issues • Strategic planning process – CMC • Recommendations – CMC

Issues and Concerns • • Substantial increase in calls Full time fire fighters’ expectations Volunteers’ expectations “Disconnects” and “burnout”

Issues and Concerns • • Communications – both directions Recruiting and retaining volunteers Generation “disconnect” concerns Volunteers’ perception – not valued

CMC Recommendations 1. 2. 3. 4. Completion of SOP Improved communications Job descriptions Organizational chart & roster

CMC Recommendations 5. Volunteer appreciation 6. Training costs paid by City 7. Volunteer retention & recruitment 8. Volunteer remuneration or stipend

CMC Recommendations 9. Department Information Book 10. Fire Department Staffing Plan 11. Fire Station upgrades & expansion 12. “State of the Department” report

CMC Recommendations 13. Review ambulances coverage area 14. Action plans for items Note – Each city is unique!

Group Discussion • Fire and EMS issues • Funding options • Recent enhancements & programs

Available Resources – Fire Protection 1. 2. 3. 4. Cityscape Articles IPA’s Policy Leaders Handbook ILC Special Report – City Collaboration ILC Resources – Website

Available Resources – Fire Protection 5. Response 202 Manual - 1997 Edition 6. George Oster & Associates, LLC 7. ILC Special Report – Fire Protection (Available in 2018)

Final Comments Observations Patrick Callahan Municipal Consultants, LLC 563 -599 -3708 or callahan. cmc@gmail. com www. callahanmunicipalconsultants. com