JANUARY 9, 2013 WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
NEWSMAGAZINENETWORK.COM
I NEWS I 19
West County EMS and Fire Protection District approves 2013 budget By JIM ERICKSON West County EMS and Fire Protection District has approved a 2013 budget with expenditures totaling $12.96 million from its general, ambulance, dispatch, pension, debt service and capital projects funds. The 2013 total is $1.52 million less than comparable figures for 2012. Total spending last year is less than what was anticipated, but the 2013 budget still will be more than $1.18 million below 2012’s actual expenditures. The biggest year-to-year change is in the district’s capital projects fund where spending in 2013 is set at $1.14 million, well below the nearly $2.4 million spent last year and the almost $2.87 million originally budgeted. The capital fund includes spending on large construction projects and purchase of major items of equipment. The fund’s revenue comes from the sale of general obligation bonds approved by voters in the district. In 2008, voters authorized the sale of $19 million in bonds. Since then, two bond sales totaling $10 million were held in 2009 and 2010, while another $2.475 million was sold late in 2012. Principal and interest payments on the bonds are accounted for in the district’s debt service fund. In the district’s general fund, the largest in the overall budget, spending in 2013 is projected to increase to almost $5.85 million, an 8.2 percent rise from the 2012 budget figure of $5.4 million. Actual 2012 general fund expenditures are projected to be $5.65 million. Included in the general fund are all revenues and expenditures except those
required to be accounted for in other specialized funds. Those other funds, along with 2013 and 2012 budget figures and actual 2012 spending include: • Ambulance fund, where 2013 and 2012 budgeted expenditures total $3.11 million and $3.14 million, respectively, and 2012 actual spending was $3.15 million. The fund covers revenues from a special tax levy, as well as fees charged and expenditures made to provide ambulance services. • Dispatch fund, where 2013 and 2012 budgeted expenditures total $347,852 and
By Charles Brennan
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$345,152, respectively, and 2012 actual spending was $345,152. The fund is used for taxes received and expenditures incurred in participating in the Central County Emergency 911 dispatch service based in Ellisville. • Pension fund, where 2013 and 2012 budgeted expenditures total almost $1.04 million and $1.044 million, respectively, and 2012 actual spending also was nearly $1.04 million. The fund includes revenue from taxes and expenditures for providing pension benefits to district employees. • Debt service, where 2013 and 2012
budgeted expenditures total $1.47 million and $1.67 million, respectively, and 2012 actual spending was $1.56 million. With a district-wide increase in assessed property valuations of less than 1 percent, the West County Board earlier had approved tax rates basically the same as those levied last year. Differences included a decrease of .3 of a cent per $100 assessed valuation in the tax levy for debt service and an increase of .1 of a cent per $100 assessed valuation in the ambulance fund rate on residential property.
few years back, I shared with you some fairly personal information about my legs.
It had to do with the amazing way they responded to a medically based form of fitness training that I had taken up in 2006. Performed on special equipment under the supervision of a wonderful physical therapist named Casey Breslin, my workouts took about 20 minutes a week. Like many of you, I had been skeptical when I first heard about this approach. I mean, 20 minutes a WEEK? It went against everything I'd ever been taught. But, as we say in radio: the legs don't lie. And mine had never been better. At age 49, I could run 12 miles around Forest Park pain-free. I was barely winded.
So what has happened since then, you might wonder? After all, how many times have you known people who were gung ho on some health and fitness regimen, only to find themselves right back where they started a few months later? That's why I'm back today with an update. Are you ready? My legs – in fact, my entire body – are stronger and more fit than ever. I notice it when I'm hiking or kicking the soccer ball with my kids or when I'm doing yard work. Even my posture is better. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking: Charlie, this is not much of a story.
Ballwin honored as ‘best place to raise kids’
But it should be. You see, after age 30, most people lose eight to 10 pounds of muscle a decade. By the time you reach my age – 53 – the speed of muscle loss roars into high gear – unless you do something to reverse it.
“Bloomberg Businessweek” has named Ballwin as one of its 2013 Best Places to Raise Kids. A qualifying characteristic of the city was its $10 million recreation center, The Pointe at Ballwin Commons. Featuring two gymnasiums, an indoor track, full circuit weight system, dance/aerobic studio, indoor and outdoor pool/aquatic center, game room and kids play area, the recreation center offers something for everyone. In its review of the city, Bloomberg stated: “It’s hard to imagine needing further entertainment for kids when Ballwin already has a large public recreation center with a full gym, pool and separate outdoor aquatic center. Still, more options are just a quick car ride away in St. Louis. True outdoorsmen can get their hunting fix close to home, as Ballwin allows deer hunting on private property.” One city was chosen from each state.
This matters because muscle, it turns out, is the gatekeeper of long-term health. Next to quitting smoking, doctors now say the single most important thing an adult can do to live a longer, healthier life is to build strength. That – along with the fact that I have two young children I need to keep up with – is why I started going to 20 Minutes to Fitness six years ago. It is why I continue to go today. That's the funny thing about exercise: it really only works if you CONTINUE to do it. No fitness regimen will do any lasting good if you join up as a New Year's resolution and quit by March. But 20 minutes, once a week? That is something I can stick with. It works with my busy schedule. It doesn't bore or injure me. Plus, it has the added benefit of actually working. 20 Minutes to Fitness. Yes, that's my workout – and I'm sticking to it.
KMOX broadcasting veteran Charles Brennan, with 20 Minutes to Fitness physical therapist Jaime Boswell
For more information on 20 Minutes to Fitness, call its studios in Clayton (314-863-7836) or Chesterfield (636-536-1504) or visit www.20MinutesToFitness.com.