CENTRAL KITSAP – Due to rising a workload coupled with aging firefighting vehicles, Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue may ask voters this summer to approve a maintenance and operations levy and a bond that could pay for additional workers and purchase newer equipment.

Fire Chief Scott Weninger said the current operating budget was not sustainable.

“That is not a surprise. Most fire departments across the state are struggling or will be struggling in the future because their finances are not sustainable … That’s why we see more and more stuff go to the ballot,” he said.

CKFR operates with a $16.4 million budget that is 84-percent drawn from property taxes. But due to the recession, reductions in the assessed valuation of properties has reduced CKFR’s budget. CKFR has dealt with the shortfall in revenue compared to expenditures by drawing from its reserve funds – something that cannot continue indefinitely, Weninger said.

Weninger said some of CKFR’s equipment such as fire engines, ambulances, ladder trucks and even its 1984 rescue boat needed replacement at some point due to accumulated wear and tear. The equipment typically serves 15 years of “front line” service followed by an additional 10 years on the back line before being replaced. Replacing a fire engine or ladder truck can cost $1 million.

Also, fire stations are in need of repairs. Some have already had leaky roofs replaced.

A new bond could pay for those needs. It might come in the form of a five-year, $5 million bond, followed with a second five-year bond after the first one expires.

Alternately, a 10-year bond could be put before voters. The dollar figures would be the same regardless if two five-year or one ten-year bond was proposed. The difference is that a 10-year bond would allow CKFR to plan better, but on the other hand the five-year bond plan was found to be more acceptable to the CKFR citizens advisory board.

Additionally, a maintenance and operations levy – or “M&O” – may be sought to increase staff with a mix of firefighters and support staff to handle the increase in call volume in the Central Kitsap area.

Fire calls increased 11 percent from 2013 to 2014, Weninger said, citing the need for additional workers. Additional staffing could also mean that Station 64 in Chico – currently only staffed part of the time – could be staffed more of the time, and thus improve response times.

The M&O levy could be for $1.8 million for four years.

CKFR hoped it could move quickly and have the two proposals ready for voters by August.

“Both of those are new taxes and will require a 60 percent majority of the voting populace. It is unknown if we could pass that. We won’t know unless we ask,” Weninger said.

Weninger said a poll of the citizens advisory board showed 71 percent approved of the bond idea and 14 percent disapproved. The M&O levy was less popular with 71 percent in favor and 29 percent against.

“We’re going to need more staffing,” said Fire Commission Board Chair Dave Fergus. “There’s going to be more growth. The writing is on the wall. We will be upside down budget-wise. We aren’t quite upside-down yet.”

The lions share of CKFR’s $16.4 million budget – $13.5 million – goes toward personnel costs. CKFR employs 98 people, around 75 of which are firefighters.

In other news:

• The board approved a 2 percent raise for CKFR’s seven managers on June 1 and an additional 2 percent raise on Jan. 1. Management elected not to increase their pay 2010-2014 during the recession. As a result, salaries for management are now 7 percent lower than comparable agency wages, according to CKFR. The two 2-percent wage hikes are meant to compensate for the lack of raises during the recession. According to the 2015 operating budget, management salaries currently range from $94,900 to $151,946.

• Weninger thanked the community for their strong support for continuing the EMS levy during the April special election. More than 77 percent of voters were in favor of continuing that levy.

“We appreciate the support of the community,” Weninger said.

• A temporary mechanic may be hired to handle workload due to the regular mechanic being on leave.

• The CKFR Kid’s Day is scheduled for June 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

• CKFR’s citizen advisory board encouraged CKFR to purchase land for future fire stations now, before Silverdale grows even more.