FY 18 Annual Report

Fire Department CITY OF SPENCER, IOWA

2018

Departmental Highlights

The Spencer Fire Department is staffed by four full-time firefighters as well as the Fire Chief. In addition to the full-time, professional staff, a dedicated group of 38 paid on-call firefighters is ready and able to assist when called upon. The Department is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and responds to fire related calls as well as accidents and medical emergencies. Capital expenditures for the department in FY 18 included the installation of a new fire alarm system at the fire station. Capital expenditures that were budgeted for the year were not moved forward as the planned vehicle purchase was converted to the construction of a fire training facility.

Budget Review

Total expenditures for the Fire Department were $593,359.74 for the fiscal year, a decrease of $13,967.16 (-2.30%) over FY 17. The department saw decreased expenditures in general operations and capital expenditures compared to FY 17. General operations decreases were experienced in the salaries, and commodities. The main reason for the decrease in salaries was that in FY 17, the City paid out retirements benefits for the previous Fire Chief. The department has placed a new emphasis on continuing education and training. As such, the amount spent on staff development in FY 18 was 78.33% higher in FY 18. As new paid on-call members are added to the roster, the amount spent on staff development is expected to remain steady or increase. Pension payments for the department increased in FY 18 $6,628.33 (+7.64% ). Members of the fulltime department contribute to the Municipal Fire Police Retirement System of Iowa (MFPRSI). Qualified paid on-call members of the department are eligible to participate in IPERS. Overall the department expended 62.72% of its budget.

47