| ||||||
The General Fund budget, submitted by MOFD Fire Chief Randy Bradley, showed revenue projections of $18,386,307 and total expenditures of $18,381,754. In his staff report, Bradley said that balancing this year's budget came from a disciplined approach to financial management, analyzing last fiscal year's actuals, and reviewing staffing levels and overtime expenditures without compromising service.
Regarding 2011/12 budget expenditures, Bradley included the restoration of one Battalion Chief position, which had been vacant and frozen in last year's budget. Also affecting the new budget is a 40 percent increase in employer's costs to the retirement system and the addition of a part-time Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. Bradley said the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator's cost could be offset by grants and the possible partnering with the city of Lafayette.
The Special Revenue Fund Budget for 2011/12 showed an estimated total revenue of $1,618,444. This year's fund is derived from MOFD's Fire Flow tax, federal grants, apparatus lease proceeds, and a one-time insurance payment. This budget is slated for capital expenditures such as replacing fire-fighting equipment and building upgrades. The fund, scheduled to have accumulated just over $3 million at the end of the 2010/11 fiscal budget, will be combined with this year's revenue to remodel and retrofit Station 41 in Moraga, begin the rebuilding process of Station 43 in Orinda, replace a Type 1 pumper and purchase radio/phones as part of its new communication system.
In conjunction with the budget approval, the Board of Directors also moved to keep the 2011/12 Fire-Flow tax at the same rate of $.06 for Moraga and $.06 for Orinda. The Fire Flow tax is collected for capital expenditures and assessed to District parcels based on factors such as a home's square footage and the inclusion of a sprinkler system.
MOFD Receives Donation for CPR
Moraga Orinda Fire District (MOFD) Fire Chief Randy Bradley accepted a $5,000 check from MOFD Board Member Fred Weil on behalf of the Upjohn Fund of San Francisco, a private philanthropic foundation. The Fund issued a challenge grant to MOFD, matching up to $5,000, tapped to go toward the support of the District's "CPR Anytime" training program and the purchase of CPR Anytime training kits.
The kits, to be made available to groups of any size, contain a self-taught awareness level course to help recognize sudden cardiac arrest, prompt notification through the 911 system and perform quality chest compressions. Bradley added that in most cases MOFD would send a trained instructor along to help with the learning process.
Matching funds were met with a $3,000 donation from the Moraga Lions Club as well as individual donations.
Weil, a Director of the Upjohn Fund, said that the foundation typically offers this size of donations, granting them to charities or public agencies where it would make a difference - usually in terms of a particular program such as CPR Anytime.
L.Amaral
Attention Hams!
Submitted by Cindy Petrini
Moraga Orinda Fire District (MOFD) and the Orinda Radio Interest Group (K6ORI) are hosting Amateur Radio Field Day at the Moraga Commons on Saturday, June 25th from 9:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. This is a national event sponsored by the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national organization of amateur radio operators. These local "hams" will try to contact others all over the United States and beyond. The Lamorinda Field Day event will demonstrate the skills of the MOFD Communications Support Team, which will set up the Communications Support Vehicle; amateurs and residents of Moraga, Orinda, and Lafayette are welcome. Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA