The Fire Protection District is a taxing district of the State of Idaho, both a Body Politic and Body Corporate, charged with providing for the health, welfare and general safety of the people of Teton County.

Three Fire Commissioners, one from each district, administers the Teton County Fire Protection District, which is the management and financial arm of the fire department. Duties are divided equally with one commissioner responsible for the personnel, one responsible for the equipment, and one responsible for the financials. The commissioners hold monthly work meetings, which are open to the public, to review and discuss district operations and finances. At the work meetings, each commissioner reads and signs the budget claims, the monthly financial statements, and the previous meeting’s minutes prior to discussing old and new business. If executive matters require examination, the commissioners will call an executive, closed-door, meeting.

The Fire District is funded from taxes that are collected on improved properties only, which means that no bare, unimproved land is taxed by the district. Commissioners draft a budget every July and hold a hearing in August to finalize it before submitting it to Teton County, and ultimately the State of Idaho, for approval.

Because the commissioners are cost conscience and understand the impact on local taxpayers if the district increases its budget, they work hard to keep the mil levy increase to a minimum.