A new 4x4 truck and refurbishments to fire engines and towers are among the budget items up for vote at annual meetings for Fire Districts 1 and 2 this month. 

Registered voters may attend the meeting of their home district where they can weigh in on the budget by voting via a show of hands.

Fire District No. 1’s annual meeting will be held at the 10 Bridge Street fire station on June 10 at 6:30 p.m., while District No. 2’s meeting is on June 8 at 7 p.m. at the 1100 Russells Mills Road station. 

District No. 3’s meeting will be held on June 29 at 7 p.m. at the Cross Road headquarters. The district has yet to finalize its warrant.

Despite expected budget shortfalls caused by the coronavirus pandemic, voters for Fire District No. 1 will be asked to approve a $30,000 increase for a total budget of $606,000.

Among the proposed budget items includes a few big-ticket purchases. 

The district is seeking approval to spend $55,000 on a new 4x4 truck for the chief, $100,000 for architectural plans to renovate the station and $50,000 to refurbish and equip Engine 3.

Other proposed expenditures include $128,480 for the district’s part-time firefighter personnel, nearly $6,000 more than last year.

Meanwhile, the district chief’s pay will remain the same as last year’s $95,000.

District 1 voters will also be asked to appropriate $275,000 to refurbish communications equipment. 

Requests to fund this project will come from “free cash” and will not require any tax increases.

Similarly, District No. 2 could see a slight increase in its budget. Voters will be asked to approve a $812,390 budget, which is up from last year’s $798,841. 

Included in the figure is compensation for district officials, firefighters, general expenses and operational expenses, loan payments, and reserve and stabilization funding.

Fire District No. 3 is still finalizing its warrant.

Copies of the available district meeting warrants can be found for download above.