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Fire department receives grant, increases expenditures

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The Gallup City Council discussed a pair of items related to the Gallup Fire Department’s finances during its July 28 meeting.

Fire Chief Jesus Morales spoke about the items, starting with a budget adjustment to the city’s Fire Protection Distribution Fund.

Back in March, the city was projected to receive about $408,043 from the State Fire Marshal, Morales said, and the city used that amount to budget the Fire Fund for FY21.

The actual amount received by the city turned out to be $616,698, leading to a budget increase of $208,655 in revenue and expenditures.

“We will use part of the actual amount to make the [annual] payment to New Mexico Finance Authority for the loan we have on Fire Station 4 on the west side,” Morales said. “I estimate we have about six or seven years left on this loan.”

The city’s payment to NMFA is $142,352, leaving the city with $474,089 to use to continue department operations.

Next, Morales announced the fire department was selected to receive a Walmart Community Grant in the amount of $2,500 which will be used to purchase two automated external defibrillators.

Dist. 4 Councilor Fran Palochak expressed her gratitude for both organizations for this award.

“I want to say thank you to Walmart for providing us with this grant and to you, Chuy, [Jesus “Chuy” Morales] for using this grant in an efficient manner,” she said. “[I’m grateful] because I’m getting up there in years and may need that defibrillator someday. So I want to make sure you have good equipment.”

Both items were approved by the council with 5-0 votes.

By Cody Begaye
Sun Correspondent

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