Dartmouth Fire District 2 proposes $640,120 budget
Voters of Dartmouth Fire District 2 will be asked to approve a total budget of $640,120.32 at the district’s Annual Meeting on Monday, May 11.
A total of $292,861 is being requested to fund the General Expense Budget, which includes things like the Chief’s annual salary ($81,955), insurance expenses ($52,800), health insurance ($26,000), and a retirement account ($17,431).
The district is requesting $26,700 for the construction of an aboveground fuel depot, which Chief Tim Andre said will help reduce costs in the long run.
“We want to remove (the current underground tanks) and eliminate our liability on the insurance side,” said Andre. “We want to eliminate annual inspections. It will save the district quite a bit of money once we are able to do that.”
$187,259.32 is being sought for the Operational Budget, which pays for salaries of employees such as the Deputy Chief ($5,000), one full-time firefighter ($44,259.32), and EMT stipends ($30,000) for firefighters who take EMT training annually. According to Andre, five of the district’s firefighters have EMT training.
“They get a stipend for 40 hours of continuing education,” he said. “It’s kind of an incentive.”
The district will also vote to raise and appropriate $160,000 for debt owed on the “Renovation/Construction” loan from past construction done at the Russells Mills Road Engine House.
Fire District 2 covers the southwestern most portion of town.
The meeting will be held at the Engine House at 1100 Russells Mills Road at 7 p.m.