Ambulance district reviews financial standings

SANDPOINT — In a condensed meeting, the Bonner County Ambulance District reviewed their financial standings and forecast for the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years.  

As part of a request made by county commissioners, Chief Jeff Lindsey presented a budget forecast for the ambulance district for the upcoming fiscal year. He also noted plans to provide a five-year financial outlook in future meetings. Lindsey shared the district’s estimated current cash position, projected revenue and expenses, and the forecasted ending balance. 

Lindsey first presented the district’s budget through fiscal year 2025, sharing that the district currently has $914,600 in cash on hand. Its forecasted revenue sits at $1,520,00 with forecasted expenditure at $1,300,000. The ending balance of FY25 is expected to be $1,134,600. 

Lindsey also forecasted a revenue “gap period —” a time extending from October through January when the district does not receive county tax funds.  

During this gap last year, district officials realized that the district did not have any funds in its account to continue operating. It also came to light that the district had been run like a county department, not its own taxing district. To prevent a similar situation, Lindsey shared that the county will again be applying for a tax anticipation note sometime in the fall.  

During the revenue gap period in FY26, the projected cash carried forward is $1,100,000, with total expenses around $1,540,000 and revenues estimated at $560,000. By the end of the gap period, the district is expected to have $120,000 in its account.  

For the FY26 projected budget, the district is expected to begin their cash amount at $1,100,000, accumulating $4,600,000 in expenses and $5,100,000 in revenue. It is expected to finish the fiscal year at $1,600,000 — over $450,000 more than the previous fiscal year.