RFPD Board reviews proposed 2026 budget, gets update on property transfer from Town of Rico

. . .

above photo
Vehicle parking area-
Rico Firehouse
Ore Cart - November 17, 2025

by Allyn Svoboda
Publisher

Rico Fire Protection District (RFPD)
monthly board meeting
November 17, 2025
Rico Firehouse

Rescue vehicle

Rico Fire Protection District (RFPD) board members approved the purchase of a rescue vehicle equipped for auto accidents at its November 17, 2025 regular monthly meeting. Cost of the vehicle described by an itemized bid proposal from a Utah supplier, is about $209,000 including specialized tools and equipment:

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

• 2024 Ford F-550
• heavy-duty 9ft-3in bed
• tool boxes
• LED in-box lighting
• siren with 17 tones
• work lights
• scene lights
• 300-gallon water tank and pump
• foam fire retardant system
• hydraulic tools to open a vehicle if doors are inoperable
• hand and air specialized tools
• cribbing and airbags for stabilizing a vehicle if overturned or on precarious terrain

Land transfer from Town of Rico

Rico Firehouse was built on parcels owned by Town of Rico. RFPD Board member and treasurer Gregg Anderson described preparations with a land title company for transferring ownership of these parcels from Town to RFPD.

map source: Dolores County map viewer
blue lines, labels and arrows added by Ore Cart

. .

Rico Board of Trustees considered a Memorandum of Understanding between the Town of Rico and the Rico Fire Protection District regarding the transfer of Block 2 Lots 9, 10, 11 and 12 to Rico Fire Protection District at Trustees' October 15, 2025 regular monthly meeting.

2026 RFPD proposed budget - revenue

all numbers are "thousands"
YTD: year-to-date 11-Oct-2025

PROPERTY TAX
2024 actual . . . $ 111.6
2025 YTD . . . . . $ 114.1
2026 budget . . $ 131.6

EXCISE TAX
2024 actual . . . $ 1.8
2025 YTD . . . . . $ 0.3
2026 budget . . $ -

DONATIONS
2024 actual . . . $ 36.8
2025 YTD . . . . . $ 33.4
2026 budget . . $ 8.0

OTHER INCOME

• Grants
• Dolores County Ambulance
• Cell tower lease
• CSAFE interest Cap Imp
• Equipment Rental
• TSFA
  

2024 actual . . . $ 130.7
2025 YTD . . . . . $ 23.2
2026 budget . . $ 15.6

TOTAL REVENUE
2024 actual . . . $ 280.9
2025 YTD . . . . . $ 170.9
2026 budget . . $ 155.2

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