As the communities within Caldwell Rural Fire District (CRFD) — Caldwell, Notus, Greenleaf, Huston, and surrounding areas — continue to grow, so does the need for expanded fire protection facilities and infrastructure. To proactively plan and fund these needs, the District is developing a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and a corresponding development impact fee program. These tools help ensure that new development contributes its fair share toward the cost of critical fire protection infrastructure, allowing the District to maintain timely and effective emergency services for all residents.

What is a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)?
A CIP is a planning document that identifies the District’s future capital projects, estimates their costs, and proposes a schedule for implementation. State law (Idaho Code § 67-8208) requires a legally adopted CIP as a prerequisite to charging development impact fees. For a fire district, this typically includes projects such as new fire stations, apparatus bays, and major equipment necessary to serve growth.

What are Development Impact Fees?
Development impact fees are one-time charges on new development to pay for a proportionate share of the cost of growth-related capital improvements. They may only fund facilities and equipment needed to serve new development—not operations or maintenance such as salaries or repairs.
Per Idaho Code § 67-8203(9), an impact fee is defined as “a payment of money imposed upon development as a condition of development approval… to pay for a proportionate share of the cost of system improvements needed to serve development.”

Why this matters
Impact fees ensure that growth pays for growth. By funding growth-related costs through development, the District protects its financial stability while continuing to provide reliable fire and emergency response for both current and future residents.