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July 25, 2013 aYR14RXf=2WX AIL YAM 1DROMMUIR v. WWW CENTENMALFIRE ORG 7741 LAKE DRIVE a UNa LAKES, UN $5414 PHONE 651.784.7472 o FAX 651.784.2427 Honorable Mayors Steering Committee Members Enclosed is the budget proposal for fiscal year 2014. The budget shows a 2.82% decrease overall. There are no changes in the capital equipment fund over the previous year. In fourteen days, I will celebrate my fifth year anniversary with the fire district. Though I grew up preparing myself for the opportunity to become a Chief someday, I could have never predicted the challenges that I would face in accepting the job. Arriving in 2008, America suffered the worst financial deficit of our lifetime. The housing market dropped, decreasing market values and tax revenue, businesses and government cut jobs and people suffered the great loss of their financial security. Not only was I forced to learn the job as Chief, I also had to find ways to accomplish what needed to be done without reducing service to our communities. During the past five years our staff has gone above and beyond any other department I am aware of. We reorganized our staff, changed our response plan, reduced our energy usage, modified our training, implemented new policies, wrote grants, increased revenue, and more. The economy created tremendous personnel issues, recruitment challenges, equipment needs, and increased call volume. This has led us to hire 47 new firefighters since 2008, which is a fulltime job in itself. All that being said, we were able to increase the professionalism of the organization as one to emulate. It is not uncommon to have people ask what we are doing to find solutions. We have improved our skills and tactics to reduce risk of injury and loss for those we assist. We have made many partnerships and built a fire district whose morale is higher than ever before. Above all, we were able to do this with one of the lowest, if not the lowest, operating budgets in Anoka County. I would be remiss if I did not give credit for all of this to the people I am honored to work with each day; the firefighters of the Centennial Fire District. Over the past five years they have endured many changes without resistance. They continue to give us their time, at little cost, for the significant benefit to those we serve and never complain. Their commitment is commendable. Attached along with this letter is the proposed budget and documents to assist your voting decision on the 25"'. I again thank you for the opportunity to serve here and appreciate your continued support. Pride -Honor -Integrity -Professional, t, Jerry . S - ich 1~ ire h of 77