On September 15, the Moraga-Orinda Fire District (MOFD) Board of Directors approved its General Fund and Special Revenue Fund budgets for fiscal year 2010/2011. The District has been working with the budget for several months now, however the Board was required to pass a final version of the budget no later than September 30.

Fire Chief Randy Bradley presented the Board with a breakdown of expected revenues and expenses, highlighting the District's efforts to balance the budget while maintaining the current level of service. Bradley said that expected revenues for the year are $18,100,893 with expected expenses of $18,277,788.

Due to property tax shortfalls, MOFD originally found itself with a deficit of about $450,000. Bradley said that with cost cutting measures ranging from renegotiating insurance premiums to cutting laundry service, the District was able to bring the deficit down to less than $178,000. Revenue for the General Fund budget comes from property tax, earnings on investments, charges for services and intergovernmental fees.

The Chief offered two options to balance the budget: Institute furlough days and hour restrictions to administrative personnel (including the Chief and Fire Marshall) as well as shifting two full time positions to part time; or, using money from MOFD's reserve fund.

After a brief discussion as to further cost cutting options, the possible surplus from the 2009/2010 budget and the probability that conditions would improve next year, the Board voted to add reserve funds to balance the budget.

Bradley also advised that revenue for the Special Revenue Fund for fiscal 2010/2011 will be $1,302,957. The District's Special Revenue Fund is currently used for items such as the replacement of fire-fighting equipment, building upgrades and apparatus. Revenue for this fund comes from Fire Flow Tax, earnings on investments, federal grants and insurance recovery.

Bradley said that included in the Special Revenue Fund expenses this year is the installation of a new station exhaust system and the purchase a Type 3 Wildland Engine, which replaces the District's outdated Type 4 Engine recently considered totaled from a rollover accident.