Verde Valley Fire District Fire Chief Nazih Hazime presented a preliminary budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year to the Verde Valley Fire District Governing Board at a regular meeting April 24.

The budget would take effect starting Sunday, July 1, and calls for an overall reduction in the tax levy while possibly increasing staff and allowing for increases in the cost of living.

Hazime said careful examination of line items, a reduction in fleet costs and retention of reserve staff all helped to produce a projected budget reduction of approximately $117,000. District fleet costs have been reduced by refurbishing an ambulance instead of purchasing a new one and selling three older vehicles, a fire engine, a water tender and an ambulance.

For the full story, see the Wednesday, May 2, edition of The Camp Verde Journal or the Cottonwood Journal Extra.