Vashon fire commissioners approved the department’s 2017 budget last week, a $3.6 million spending plan that indicates financial challenges ahead and reflects some large changes at the district, including the upcoming departure of the paramedics and the hiring of two firefighters.

The budget, approved 4-0 on Tuesday, Nov. 29, shows that $3.1 million in revenue is expected next year, primarily from taxes — some $450,000 less than projected expenses. The deficit will come from the district’s $1.1 unreserved fund balance, bringing its total down to approximately $675,000 by the end of 2017.

Assistant Chief Bob Larsen, who has been serving as the district’s chief in recent months, noted the seriousness of the financial picture.

“It is significant,” he said. “We are a growing district, and we need to cover those costs.”

A large portion of the increase in expenses is the addition of two new firefighters/emergency medical technicians — a process that is currently underway — to bolster the department’s firefighting capabilities. The district took this step because the island’s paramedics, who are also firefighters, will be joining those of South King County Medic One as early as the first quarter of the new year. After that, the paramedics who will serve the island will not be firefighters. The firefighters are also emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and will address the demand for their services, which has grown considerably in recent years.

Vashon Island Fire & Rescue (VIFR) officials have been indicating for some time that the district was feeling financial pressure because it has not raised taxes since 1998, and its costs — and call volume — have risen considerably since then. The fire board plans to address the issue with the community this spring, board chair Candy McCullough said last week, noting that the commissioners have been talking about generating additional revenue for years.

“We knew this day was coming,” she added.

The increased expenses next year will be partially offset by funds King County is providing the district as part of the paramedic transition plan. Currently, the county contracts with VIFR to provide paramedic services to the island and pays the fire department approximately $2 million a year to do so. County officials have indicated they will allow VIFR to keep nearly $408,000 — a portion of the paramedic program year-end fund balance — to help ease the transition for the district.

One of the largest budget categories at the department is suppression, which includes wages, uniforms and equipment for non-medical responses. The addition of the two firefighters will add nearly $200,000 to the suppression expense category next year. Suppression is also slated for other increased expenses, including $4,000 for wildland equipment and $6,000 in higher dispatch fees.

Staffing changes and increased costs are planned for VIFR’s administrative team as well. Larsen noted he plans to combine two part-time positions into one. As only one of the positions is filled now. The added cost is expected to be $51,000.

Additionally, expenses related to volunteers are slated to rise in several areas — reimbursement, recruitment and retention — by a total of $13,000.

Finally, Larsen added $37,000 in election costs to the budget; previous budgets had not included those costs, he said, and he was advised to do so. Next year, two board positions will be up, and there may be of a public vote on whether or not to raise taxes. In fact, it is possible that election costs could exceed $50,000 next year, he said.

In a budget summary Larsen provided last month, he indicated he had not included some substantial items in the plan: $88,000 for parking lot resurfacing and $220,000 for a new aid car, or ambulance. Additionally, he noted that the department’s newest fire truck is 15 years old and its newest aid car, at four years old, has 84,000 miles on it. The department also has a lot of facilities to maintain and the newest of those — Station 55 on Bank Road — is 23 years old.

McCullough noted that she is uncomfortable with how tight the budget is, giving as an example that at the last board meeting, Larsen indicated 83 percent of the year had passed, and the district had spent 83 percent of its annual revenue.

“Can’t we be 2 percent ahead?” she said. “That is a big concern.”

She added the district will continue serving the island, within the confines of the budget.

“This is what we can do with what we have. It is the best we can do for the community, but it is barely within our resources,” she said. “Next year, for 2018, we have to come up with a plan to supplement those finances.”