JANUARY 31, 2025|
Photo – Fire Protection District logo – Courtesy Fire Protection District
Saratoga officials expressed uncertainty about who is responsible for handling payroll following their recent partnership with the Carbon County Fire Protection District.
During the January 21st Saratoga town council meeting, Mayor Chuck Davis explained that he was under the impression that the Fire Protection District would pay Saratoga’s volunteer firefighters when they responded to emergencies outside of town. However, Mayor Davis said he recently learned that the fire district is not required to keep track of what is owed to Saratoga’s firefighters, instead placing the burden on the town.
In November 2022, Carbon County residents voted to create a fire protection district to handle emergencies in unincorporated areas of the county. Previously, county fire services were included in the county’s annual budget.
With the creation of the fire protection district, the county is no longer solely responsible for funding firefighting services.
Instead, Carbon County taxpayers are assessed a 3-mill property tax levy to pay for out-of-town firefighting efforts.
The Carbon County Fire Protection District began responding to calls last July. However, the district is still finalizing contracts with the participating municipalities to allow their equipment and firefighters to be used during county emergencies.
Last August, Carbon County Fire Protection District Chief John Rutherford explained to the Medicine Bow town council that if their firefighters assist with an out-of-town emergency, Medicine Bow will be financially compensated.
At the January 21st Saratoga town council meeting, Mayor Davis said in order for the town to handle its own payroll services, it may be necessary to classify the volunteer firefighters as full-time town employees. Otherwise, the agreement with the Carbon County Fire Protection District may violate state and federal employment laws.
The mayor said Saratoga Attorney Kylie Waldrip and the fire protection district’s attorney are working together on a solution.
Mayor Davis said other municipalities also believed that the fire protection district would be responsible for tracking and paying volunteer firefighters when they are called to a county emergency.
Mayor Davis said that he does not want to add the burden of handling the fire protection district’s payroll onto the already overworked town hall staff.
The mayor said he expects to have more information about the agreement between Saratoga and the Carbon County Fire Protection District at the February 4th town council meeting.
