GOLDEN GATE CANYON — The Golden Gate Canyon Fire Protection District Board reviewed the 2027 draft budget during a regular meeting on October 22, 2026, at 7 p.m. at the Grange and online.

Board members present for the meeting were Deb Curlee, President; Marith Reheis, Vice President; Mike Sever, Treasurer; Karla Grahn, Secretary; and Dave Primmer.

Chief Kyle Benson opened the discussion of the 2027 draft budget message. The budget committee has prepared a draft budget narrative, and posted it online under "October meetings."

Benson said, "This is a new practice for us. We normally do the narrative when we submit the budget, but we figured we would get a jump start on it as we go into the November election.

"The big thing in the budget is the fleet requirements. It supports our growing firefighter roster and prevention efforts. Every year, we go through the previous budget and what we spent, and we redline it until it is the most efficient possible," Benson said.

"We started this," he added, "when I first became chief. It was the first time the budget went through this process. The budget process used to take weeks, and now we are so close that we took an hour and a half. It’s a good process for what we created here."

"Things are changing," Benson noted. In the budget there are operating and capital accounts. Capital funds are not part of the tax money; they are for reserves to reinvest in the district.

The District has $100,000 to replace an apparatus. If that purchase occurs during this budget year, it will not be in the budget next year. Capital funds are for updating apparatus with durable equipment not fixed to a vehicle, like extrication tools and radios, which are exceptionally expensive," Benson told the board. "The equipment we purchase, we could put on a new truck."

According to a memo on the Draft 2027 Budget: “As we look ahead to 2027, GGFPD’s proposed budget continues our focus on financial stability, reliable emergency response, and deliberate investment in the district’s long-term operational capacity. The budget addresses fleet and equipment needs, supports our growing firefighter roster, and funds community prevention efforts while refining allocations to reflect anticipated spending.

“As always, our forecasted budget does not include any grant funding the district may intend to submit for in the coming year, and it is very important to note as we compare previous budgets, that audited final reports representing spending for each year include successful grant awards from that year. The district’s budget process builds on the review of historical spending and program needs used in prior years.

“Addressing deferred maintenance, managing service costs, and identifying specific spending requirements help us improve the accuracy of individual allocations. Removing the contingency allocation reflects confidence in this process; changes in spending needs during the year will be addressed through budget amendments.

“The initial draft provides $307,222.91 for noncapital expenditures and $140,000 for capital investments. Anticipated tax revenue of $299,566.81 and interest income of $7,656.10 fund the noncapital portion, while the capital portion is funded through a transfer from reserves.

“The draft includes $100,000 from reserves as an initial investment toward replacing Tender 82 with a mini tender. This investment may occur in 2026. If completed in 2026, the allocation and corresponding reserve transfer will be removed from the final 2027 budget.

“This allocation of $20,000 will outfit new apparatus or update existing apparatus with durable equipment that has capital value and is not permanently affixed to the vehicle. Examples include ladders, fire hose, portable pumps, hand tools, and radios. The funding supports equipment needs across the fleet to maintain operational readiness.

“The Fire Fighter LOSAP Program allocation for $22,000 is for the Length of Service Award Program that reflects significant growth in the firefighter roster and higher award levels as members achieve additional tenure and certifications. Continued investment recognizes volunteer service and supports retention of trained, experienced firefighters.

“The reduced allocation of $20,000 reflects substantial progress in addressing deferred fleet maintenance during 2026. Our relationship with the City of Golden’s maintenance shops has also helped manage costs. This funding supports continued preventive maintenance and necessary repairs to maintain fleet reliability.

“For $4,300, the district plans to discontinue all fire station landline subscriptions, relocate the existing Starlink system from Station 83 to Station 81, and cancel Station 81’s current internet service. A Starlink Roam system will be placed at Station 83 and will also be available for deployment to incident command locations during extended operations.

“These changes are intended to reduce recurring costs while providing more flexible connectivity.”

The budget hearing will be on November 19. Copies will be available online and at the Grange and the meeting on November 19.

Mike Sever introduced a resolution for the Board to approve Ballot Initiative 6B supporting the ballot issue for fire protection apparatus.

According to the resolution, “The Board has reviewed the District's Fleet Revitalization and Capital Funding White Paper, apparatus replacement projections, financial modeling, and potential funding alternatives, and has determined that the most viable funding alternative is to seek a mill levy property tax increase of 4.5 mill dedicated exclusively to apparatus replacement, revitalization, and rehabilitation of fire apparatus and fleet vehicles; and

“The Board of Directors approved and the District Election Official submitted to the County the necessary ballot language and information required under Colorado law, which is now listed as Ballot Issue 6B on the November election;

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Board of Directors of the Golden Gate Fire Protection District of Jefferson County, Colorado, that the Board confirms its support for this ballot issue and will enact the necessary measures to ensure the proper use of any funds raised through this mill levy dedicated to apparatus purchase and revitalization.”

The Board approved the resolution with Dave Primmer voting no.

During Community Organization Reports, Auxiliary President Sally Shiner announced that Suzan Dentry has resigned as vice president. She has been with the Auxiliary for 13 years and will stay on as a member. DeeDee Ramstetter will become vice president and will remain as firefighter liaison. Val Bowman will be the fundraising coordinator.

The annual Pig Roast was successful, and they will make an announcement regarding it on October 28. The next Pig Roast will be on September 18, 2027.

Trunk or Treat at the Grange will be on October 31.

The next regular Board Meeting will be on November 19, 2026, at 7 p.m. at the Grange, 25201 Golden Gate Canyon Road, Golden.