City Council Meeting Date: September 3, 2024
To: Mayor & City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Subject:
TITLE
Approve the proposed 2025 Northfield Area Fire & Rescue Service Budget and Capital Equipment Plan and Related City of Northfield of Fire Department 2025 Contribution.
BODY
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council is asked to approve a motion to approve the 2025 budget request from the Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service (NAFRS) with the proposed budget expenditures of $1,809,779 of which Northfield’s financial contribution is $1,320,957.82.
Summary Report:
The City Council will approve the budget request from NAFRS related to the 2025 Budget and Capital Equipment Plan. The final contribution percentages for Northfield, Dundas, and the Rural Fire District have now been determined and are noted below and attached (attachment 1). A more detailed 2025 budget breakdown (attachment 2) and the 2025-2034 Capital Equipment Plan (attachment 3) are included. Northfield’s percentage stayed at 72.99% in 2025.
The NAFRS board approved the final 2024 Budget and Capital Equipment Plan at their meeting on May 16, 2023. The Northfield City Council discussed the 2025 NAFRS budget proposal at the June 4, 2024 City Council meeting and the August 20, 2024 City Council work session.
A $55,000 proposed private hydrant program with the City has been removed from the 2025 budget. City and NAFRS staff have identified an alternative way to address concerns with private hydrants in the city limits. NAFRS will be requesting an additional $31,039 (Northfield contribution) for the installation of radios for the Fire Chief and Assistant Chief vehicle for 2025. They are not expecting to be able to obtain the radios until mid-2025. City staff will determine by the end of the year if this request will remain in the 2025 budget.
An updated budget request letter from NAFRS Fire Chief Tom Nelson is attached (attachment 1).
Financial Impacts:
2025 NAFRS Operating Budget = $1,277,804
2025 NAFRS Capital Equipment Budget = $531,975
2025 NAFRS Total Preliminary Operating & Capital Equipment Budget = $1,809,779
2025 Northfield Operating Budget Contribution = $932,669 (72.99%)
2025 Northfield Capital Equipment Budget Contribution = $388,289 (72.99%)
2025 Northfield Total Operating, and Capital = $1,320,957.82
2025 Rural Fire Protection District Contribution = $374,443.31 (20.69%)
2025 Dundas Fire Protection Contribution = $114,378.04 (6.32%)
Previous Years NAFRS Budget (2016-2024):
2024 NAFRS Operating Budget = $1,195,000
2024 NAFRS Operating Budget Net Other Revenue = $1,173,000
2024 NAFRS Capital Equipment Budget = $505,000
2024 NAFRS Total Preliminary Operating & Capital Equipment Budget = $1,700,000
2024 NAFRS Total Preliminary Net Operating & Capital Equipment Budget = $1,678,000
2024 Northfield Operating Budget Contribution = $856,172.70 (72.99%)
2024 Northfield Capital Equipment Budget Contribution = $368,599.50 (72.99%)
2024 Northfield Total Operating and Capital Contribution = $1,224,772.20 (72.99%)
2024 Rural Fire Protection District Contribution = $351,730.00 (20.69%)
2024 Dundas Fire Protection Contribution = $106,049.60 (6.32%)
2023 NAFRS Operating Budget = $1,220,000
2023 NAFRS Capital Equipment Budget = $0
2023 NAFRS Total Preliminary Operating & Capital Equipment Budget = $1,220,000
2023 Northfield Operating Budget Contribution = $881,487 (72.76%)
2023 Northfield Capital Equipment Budget Contribution = $0 (72.76%)
2023 Northfield Total Operating and Capital Contribution = $881,487 (72.76%)
* Note: the contribution rates are scheduled for an update this year. The demographer’s office
is scheduled for update in August and the city contributions will be adjusted to reflect the new
formula.
2023 Rural Fire Protection District Contribution 21.26% $257,565
2023 Dundas Fire Protection Contribution 5.98% $72,448
2022 NAFRS Operating Budget = $802,000
2022 NAFRS Capital Equipment Budget = $0
2022 NAFRS Total Preliminary Operating & Capital Equipment Budget = $802,000
2022 Northfield Operating Budget Contribution = $580,400 (72.55%)
2022 Northfield Capital Equipment Budget Contribution = $0 (72.55%)
2022 Northfield Total Operating and Capital Contribution = $580,400 (72.55%)
* Note: the contribution rates are scheduled for an update this year. The demographer’s office
is scheduled for update in August and the city contributions will be adjusted to reflect the new
formula.
2021 NAFRS Operating Budget = $799,000.00
2021 NAFRS Capital Equipment Budget = $380,000.00
2021 NAFRS Total Preliminary Operating & Capital Equipment Budget = $1,179,000.00
2021 Northfield Operating Budget Contribution = $579,674.50 (72.55%)
2021 Northfield Capital Equipment Budget Contribution = $275,690.00 (72.55%)
2021 Northfield Total Operating and Capital Contribution = $855,364.50 (72.55%)
2020 NAFRS Operating Budget = $836,748
* for purposes of calculating the party’s contribution using $834,748 as there is an additional
$2,000 in revenues from training fees (fire extinguisher training) offsetting from the total.
2020 NAFRS Capital Equipment Budget = $75,000
2020 NAFRS Total Operating & Capital Equipment Budget = $911,748
2020 Northfield Operating Budget Contribution = $605,609.67 (72.55%)
2020 Northfield Capital Equipment Budget Contribution = $54,412.50 (72.55%)
2020 Northfield Total Operating and Capital Contribution = $660,022.17 (72.55%)
2019 NAFRS Budget = $817,000 (includes small equipment budget $10,000)
Note: $529,000 with lease omitted for comparison purposes to 2018.
2019 Northfield Budget Contribution = $584,726.90 (71.57%)
Note: includes lease contribution.
2018 NAFRS Budget = $525,000
2018 Northfield Contribution = $375,742.50 (71.57%)
2017 NAFRS Budget $525,000.00
2017 Northfield Contribution = $378,945.00
2016 NAFRS Budget = $525,000
2016 Northfield Contribution = $379,155
Tentative Timelines:
ü May 9, 2024 - NAFRS Finance Committee approved 2025 Budget
ü May 16, 2024 - NAFRS Board approves 2025 Budget
ü June 4, 2024 - City Council receives work session presentation on 2025 Budget
ü August 20, 2024 - City Council discusses 2025 Budget as part of larger budget discussion.
• September 3, 2024 - City Council approves 2025 Budget
• September 30, 2024 - Note: The Joint Powers Agreement requires that the City of Northfield, as a governing body of the agreement, shall act to approve or disapprove the NAFRS budget submitted on or before September 30.