Adams County Fire Rescue, North Metro Fire forego merger citing economy, leaders
DENVER (KDVR) — Months of discussion, analysis and conversations have ended with Adams County Fire Protection District and North Metro Fire Rescue District agreeing not to move forward with a merger.
The two agencies held a joint board meeting discussing the merger in January, based on the premise that the first responder districts could cost-effectively unite resources to improve services for both communities. The process was only just beginning in January, but the two agencies said they were publicizing the potential merger to maintain trust and transparency with the community.
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Now almost June, the two agencies released a statement saying the process has come to an end with leadership, namely Board Presidents Ken Lombardi of Adams County Fire Rescue and Richard Miller of North Metro Fire, saying they will forego the merger.
“Our boards and district personnel still believe in the potential of a merger that could benefit both fire districts,” the pair said in a joint statement. “However, recent legislation and impending ballot measures that reduce property tax revenue, along with other economic uncertainties, have caused some concern in how these changes have and will affect our organizations.”
The board presidents said they are concerned that a merger would reduce each fire district’s tax revenue significantly, pointing to recent legislative impacts in addition to the fact that if the pair merged, the North Metro Fire District would have to lower its mill levy to match the other fire district’s mill levy.
“Furthermore, the merger comes as our fire districts are going through a transition of several senior leadership positions. Due to these key factors, we feel this is not the best time to move forward in this process,” Lombardi and Miller wrote.
The pair said both agencies will continue to progress their “strong history of working together,” and said the process has helped both agencies gain further mutual respect. The pair said that moving forward, the agencies will continue to operate and train side-by-side.
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“We are excited to continue our work as partners in the North Area, seeking further opportunities to foster synergies between the two organizations while improving emergency service and special team response across our region, sharing resources and servicing both fire districts through a combined Fleet Division,” they wrote.
They said the merger could be revisited once new leaders have been established and economic futures have been stabilized.
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