The Argyle Fire District is not in compliance with several statutory requirements related to special district administration. Specifically, the district board has not routinely adopted a budget or developed a five-year plan, nor does it maintain a website with required information. In addition, the district has not submitted its most recent statutorily required audit. Further, during the review period, the district did not address critical administrative matters that affect the accountability of operations, including maintaining personnel records and a procurement policy.
District incident volume increased over the review period, and volunteer staff primarily responded to mutual aid incidents and service calls but provided limited support due to a lack of certified personnel. With increased population and incident volume, decreased staff levels, and no Emergency Medical Services-certified personnel, the district will continue to rely on county services to support operations. Walton County Fire Rescue and the district did not express interest in using consolidation to address inefficiencies but have taken an initial step to improve coordination.
While the district does meet a national standard for timeliness, it does not meet a standard for the number of personnel responding to incidents. The district has not taken steps to improve performance.
During the review period, the district had total revenues of $1.3 million and total expenditures of $984,695. Administrative costs and direct costs increased over the review period. While the district does not currently have a five-year plan to address its needs, the board has taken initial steps to plan for expanding operations in the future. The district’s ability to fund future plans is uncertain.
OPPAGA recommends that the district board take a number of steps to improve performance and make operations statutorily compliant. OPPAGA also recommends that the district board and Legislature consider additional steps to support effective and accountable fire and rescue operations in Walton County.
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