A $1.1 million 2007-08 fiscal year budget for Illinois Valley Fire District was approved 8-0 by the Budget Committee during a meeting Monday night, April 2.

Director Dusty Bouchard and committee member Gail Kleve were absent from the approximately two-hour-long meeting at IVFD headquarters.

The budget is to be considered for adoption by district directors during their May 10 meeting. The approved budget, down approximately $187,000 from the current fiscal year, calls for a tax rate of $1.87 per $1,000 assessed valuation, the same as this year.

Prior to the meeting of the Budget Committee, consisting of IVFD directors and five citizens-at-large, the directors voted 4-0 to approve a supplemental budget for ‘06-’07. The action, involving grants and reserve funds, is simply to transfer money from one account to another to be in compliance with Oregon law.

The approved budget for next fiscal year includes several “set-asides” in anticipation of coming grants. IVFD will be required to pay a share for each in order to acquire a new tender and new breathing apparatus.

So $20,000 is set aside for the tender, due to arrive before this year’s fire season; and $22,000 for the breathing apparatus. The grant for the latter is not yet definite, but IVFD staff and directors are hopeful.

Besides staff, the Budget Committee meeting was attended by directors Joe Malcolm, Larrick Jones, Joel Downing and Sam Michel, and citizen members Jackie Farless, Sally Palmer, Kris Ismaili and Marilyn Arnold.

Chief Harry Rich delivered his budget message. He noted that the balanced budget, developed with staff input, is designed to meet IVFD objectives while using sound financial management and protecting lives and property.

Rich said that the district is committed to providing excellent service at the best possible cost.