A blue-ribbon committee will review the West Metro Fire Protection District’s operations and finances before making recommendations to the fiscally challenged district.
The committee, which will report to the district’s board by March 1, was formed to give the district advice on revenues, expenses, services, programs and capital-improvement needs.
“We wanted to get some distinguished, educated and knowledgeable citizen leaders to take an outside look at our programs and give us some recommendations on where to cut and whether to approach the voters for a mill levy and/or bond issue in May,” district spokeswoman Cindy Matthews said Thursday.
Faced with flat revenues and rising costs, the district laid off civilian employees, cut programs and froze salaries to balance its 2006 budget of $41.6 million.
The district serves 265,000 residents in a 110-square-mile area in Lakewood, Morrison and south Jefferson County. It receives about 75 percent of its revenues from property taxes.
Among those serving on the committee are former state Senate Majority Leader Mike Feeley, developer and businessman Greg Stevinson, West Metro Chamber of Commerce president Amy Sherman, Jefferson County school board president Jane Barnes, Red Rocks Community College interim chief administrator Cliff Richardson, certified public accountant Pam Feely, banker Mark O’Connor, and Marina Pool and Spa owner Peg Mangieri.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
