Fire District 1 budget approved

May 13, 2021

Fire District 1 residents have approved a $1,358,245 budget for the next fiscal year following a socially distanced meeting on May 12. 

Money from the newly approved budget will go toward future renovations for the Bridge Street station, a hazard pay stipend, new gear, and a new skiff — along with compensation for district officials and operational expenses.

With less big-ticket items compared to fiscal year 2021, this year’s budget only saw a $13,029 increase from the $1,345,216 spent last year.

“It’s a quiet year this year,” Fire Chief Peter Andrade noted.

The highest value appropriation was $620,400 for the support of the district, including bills and insurance.

Also on the docket was $25,000 to replace an inflatable skiff from 2004. The chief noted that the current one is “not big enough” for the district’s needs.

“If we put two guys my size in it, you really don’t have the capability of making a rescue,” Andrade said. “We just want to increase the size is all.” 

$46,200 will be put toward the maintaining buildings owned by the district. 

Last year, voters approved $100,000 for architectural plans to renovate and modernize the station which was built in 1978.

Voters also approved $40,000 toward replacing out-of-date backup gear.

Each set of gear costs $4,000. To spread out the cost, the district would replace ten sets per year for the next four years.

Sixteen of the district’s firefighters will also each be getting a $1,000 hazard pay stipend for responding to a high number of calls during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

“That was very important for the guys,” Andrade said.  ”It’s the least we can do.”