NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: 2025 Amended Budget, 2026 Operating Budget, 2026 Capital Budget
Notice Type(s)
Notice,
Hearing
Event Start Date & Time
November 20, 2025 06:30 PM
Event End Date & Time
November 20, 2025 07:00 PM
Event Deadline Date & Time
11/20/25 06:30 PM
Description/Agenda
12 November 2025: Hearing Notice and Agenda posted
12 November 2025: 2025 Amended and 2026 Operating Budgets posted (as attachment)
12 November 2025; 2026 Capital Budget posted (as attachment)
20 November 2025: Audio recording attached
02 December 2025: Hearing Minutes added
-----------------------------
DAMMERON VALLEY FIRE & RESCUE
BUDGET HEARING AGENDA
20 November 2025, 6:30pm
Community Building, 1261 Dammeron Valley Drive East, Dammeron Valley, UT 84783
This is a PUBLIC HEARING for discussion, Public Comment, and approval of:
DVFR 2025 Amended Budget
DVFR 2026 Operating Budget
DVFR 2026 Capital Budget
1. Call to Order and Welcome: Alan Burns, Chairman
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Presentation of 2025 Amended Budget: Chief Chris Rieffer
4. Public Comment: 2025 Amended Budget
5. Board discussion and vote: 2025 Amended Budget
6. Presentation of 2026 Operating Budget: Chief Chris Rieffer
7. Public Comment: 2026 Operating Budget
8. Board discussion and vote: 2026 Operating Budget
9. Presentation of 2026 Capital Budget: Chief Chief Rieffer
10. Public Comment: 2026 Capital Budget
11. Board discussion and vote: 2026 Capital Budget
12. Closing comments: DVFR Board and Chief Rieffer
13. Adjournment
-----------------------------------
DAMMERON VALLEY FIRE & RESCUE
BUDGET HEARING MINUTES
20 November 2025, 6:30pm
Community Building, 1261 Dammeron Valley Drive East, Dammeron Valley, UT 84783
This is a PUBLIC HEARING for discussion, Public Comment, and approval of:
DVFR 2025 Amended Budget
DVFR 2026 Operating Budget
DVFR 2026 Capital Budget
1. Call to Order and Welcome 6:30pm, Alan Burns, Chairman. Roll call: Olivia Anderson, Pat Johnson, Alan Burns, Curt Shelley. Note: Jack Kuntz arrival 6:45pm
2. Approval of Agenda: Motion to approve by Curt Shelley, second Pat Johnson. Agenda approved.
3. Pledge of Allegiance: led by Curt Shelley
4. Presentation of 2025 Amended Budget: Chief Chris Rieffer
a. Note: since the actual revenues and expenditures YTD 2025 are significantly different than the 2025 Budget approved in the last cycle, an Amended Budget is required. A balanced Budget is required to be submitted to the State Auditor.
b. The line item details of 2025 Approved Budget ($1,238,147), the 2025 Proposed Amended Budget ($2,462,925), and the 2026 Proposed Budget ($2,334,979) are attached as a separate document, and are included by reference to the Minutes.
5. Public Comment: 2025 Amended Budget:
a. Alan Lodder 1) is DVFR in the red (deficit) or black? The current financial statement shows conclusively that the department is positive, 'in the black' by approximately $187K. 2) what is the 2026 fee? The annual fee of $550 remains the same as 2025, and was approved in the prior 11 November 2025 monthly meeting.
b. Rick Johnson: 1) DVFR exceeds expectations through Chiefs Barnes, Hennessey, Rieffer. 2) the County understands emergency services provided to the Hwy 18 communities are funded by Dammeron Valley. 3) County must move to get the other communities paying their way.
6. Board discussion and vote: 2025 Amended Budget. No Board comments. Motion to
approve by Curt Shelley, second by Pat Johnson. 2025 Amended Budget approved.
7. Presentation of 2026 Operating Budget: Chief Chris Rieffer. See item 4 above
8. Public Comment: 2026 Operating Budget
a. Mark Dalahousie: noted expenses increased over $1 million. Response from Curt Shelley - refer to income, which increased more than that. Generating income (deployments, REMS Rapid Extraction Module System) also increases related expenses. Why all the other programs when the basic mission is fire protection? Response from Chief Rieffer: all other trainings make firefighters better prepared to provide the best level of service to residents, better protection.
b. Kim Slight: Without the revenue generated, the services provided to residents could significantly increase, up to 3 times the current fee.
c. Alan Lodder: how did you make your money? Response from Board members and Chief Rieffer: Deployments, REMS, standby EMS (PGA tournaments), training academies.
9. Board discussion and vote: 2026 Operating Budget. Pat Johnson: have reviewed proposed budget, find it to be well crafted, realistic. Concern not with revenue, Chief Rieffer has demonstrated he can achieve revenue targets. Concern is with spending, controls are in place to manage, but a spending plan will be critical. Motion to approve by Pat Johnson, second by Jack Kuntz, 2026 Operating Budget approved.
10. Presentation of 2026 Capital Budget by Chief Chris Rieffer:
a. See item 4 above
b. The Capital Budgets for years 2026 - 2030 are made in anticipation of funds being available through operations, grants, and other sources.
c. Chief Rieffer also noted that during deployments, minimum-4 staffing is maintained locally at all times.
11. Public Comment: 2026 Capital Budget
a. Rick Johnson: Somebody should get the Developer to help. Can school trusts lands be available for training? We need a 20 acre training center.
12. Board discussion and vote, 2026 Capital Budget
a. Olivia Anderson: what happens if DVFR does not get the grants anticipated? Chief Rieffer: then those capital expenditures are not made.
b. Motion to approve by Pat Johnson, second by Curt Shelley. 2026 Capital Budget approved.
13. Closing comments: DVFR and Chief Rieffer: there being none, at 7:15pm a motion to Adjourn was made by Curt Shelley, second by Jack Kuntz. Hearing adjourned.
Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations during this hearing should notify the Dammeron Valley Fire Special Service District Chairman of the Board, Ryan Andersen, at least three days prior to the hearing.
Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation
Policy: This shall be known as the Dammeron Valley Fire Special Service District Electronic Board Meeting Policy.
In compliance with Utah State Code 52-4-207
Title 52
Chapter 4
Section 207
Other Information
DVFD is located on the east side of Highway 18, about half way between Mile Markers 17 & 18, the second building after the mail box pods on the North side of the street.
Alan Burns - Board Chair
Curt Shelley Treasurer
Pat Johnson - Clerk
Jack Smasal - Member
Olivia Anderson - Member