Politics & Government

San Marino Budget: Fire Dept. Expenses Expected to Increase

A new full-time fire chief and employee-leave payouts contribute to an expected rise in SMFD expenses, but November's public safety tax ballot item leaves much of the budget up to voters.

One of the most important city budget areas is that of public safety— the San Marino Police Department and the —which is expected to increase by $225,106, compared to the 2010-11 fiscal year budget.

The San Marino City Council will adopt a 2011-12 fiscal year budget for the entire city on Friday.

A third of the public safety budget comes from the public safety tax, which residents will vote on again in the November election. Should the public safety tax not pass, it would mean major cuts for the San Marino Police and Fire Departments.  

Find out what's happening in San Marinowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The following San Marino Fire Department budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year was laid out at the June 8 San Marino City Council meeting:


2009-10 Actual 2010-11 Budget 2010-11 Estimate 2011-12 Request Budget Change Expenditures $3,612,254 $4,117,497 $4,114,073 $4,223,864 2.75% Personnel $3,291,485 $3,699,211 $3,761,693 $3,939,761 $178,068   4.75% Services and Supplies $232,803 $283,426 $277,089 $274,103

-$2,986 -1.0%

Find out what's happening in San Marinowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Capital Outlay $87,966 $134,860 $105,291 $10,000 -$95,291 -90%

Expense Increases:

Full-time fire chief in six months: $32,355*

*Fire Chief Jim Anderson, who has been working part-time, will officially retire on June 30. Currently, three existing public safety officers are taking his place until the results of the public safety tax vote are known and the city can hire a full-time fire chief.

Accounting for funding of employee leave payouts: $64, 000

Expense Decreases:

Shared resources and purchases with other cities: amount unknown

Future Outlook:

If the public safety tax, which provides $1.2 million for the SMFD, does not pass in November, the SMFD would need to cut the equivalent of eight firefighter/paramedic positions.


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