CAFD finalizes levy as budget grows 10%

The Cloquet Area Fire District’s 2025 budget has climbed and its proposed levy, which garnered three “no” votes from board members in September, remains unchanged.

The district board presented this information at its annual truth-in-taxation meeting at which two residents participated Dec. 5. The state-mandated meeting allows for public comment ahead of levy approval.

The total that could be levied on the combined fire and ambulance service areas at the board’s upcoming Dec. 18 meeting is $4,334,394. The amount individual residents pay may differ from what was presented in September. Fire chief Jesse Buhs said the county informed them of a change in the state’s Homestead Market Value Exclusion law, which in effect shifts the tax burden to higher-valued properties.

Consequently, the district projects a $200,000 home will be levied $290 and $89 for the fire and ambulance areas, respectively, or $379 for a resident in both.

In contrast to the levy, the district budget will increase further to 10.01 percent over 2024. Wage hikes, inflation, building maintenance, and an ambulance purchase were listed as reasons for the growing budget.

Union staff will get a 4- to 6-percent wage adjustment in 2025 and again in 2026. Buhs said this is to improve retention.

The purchase of a $343,000 ambulance will be completed in 2025 without bonding, but Buhs said its delivery to replace an old vehicle is a “shifting target.” He said they try to replace one of four ambulances every two years.

A new fire engine slated for delivery in 2026 will still need funding, and the district has sold old equipment to that end. Buhs said the district will bond for the fire engine, “so that should in itself just keep a flat levy.”

Sheila Lamb, who represents Cloquet on the board, highlighted the district’s pursuit of grant funding to save money. Buhs noted that an $11,000 grant from Essentia for IV pumps will cover the equipment the district budgeted for next year. A $20,000 grant from Minnesota Power for a utility terrain vehicle funds what Buhs called a growing need, although it wasn’t in the budget.

In his comments to the board, Cloquet resident Clarence Badger drew on his experience with the citizen advisory committee for Carlton County’s new jail to urge the district to pay attention to funding deadlines while building legislative support for a new building.

Buhs said he has submitted an application so that if there is a special bonding bill, “we will be aggressively pursuing” 50-percent funding from the state to offset the $18 million price tag for a new building.

Badger pressed the chief on whether they are working with local legislators, to which Buhs replied both Sen. Jason Rarick and Rep. Jeff Dotseth are authoring bills on the district’s behalf.

In a separate statement to the Pine Knot, Buhs thanked the two legislators for their attention, “as they have been steadfast in their efforts to pass legislation that will support our mission to serve our community effectively.”