|
Saturday, 10 October 2009 |
RACHAEL STAMP
Special to the Times
The Coventry Fire Department had their final budget meeting this Monday and unanimously voted and approved this year’s budget.
About 45 people attended the meeting held on October 5 at the Town Hall Annex.
The fire department’s budget is increasing by 3.2 percent this year said Coventry Fire Chief Robert Seltzer. He said this year of budgeting was one of finding and cutting any unnecessary expenditure.
“We’ve well aware of the economic situation and have cut the budget as lean as possible,” said Robert Seltzer, Coventry fire chief.
The budget was cut in 12 different budgeting areas and expenses have increased for equipment, loan payments payroll and taxes and the post employment health plan, according to Coventry’s budget comparison.
Seltzer said the insurance costs have been cut by $40,000 because of new negotiations with the union.
Fire union president Dave Gorman said the relationship between the district board and the firefighters union was a good one.
“It’s quite unique,” Gorman said. “They work together with the board. It’s a good environment to negotiate in.”
Seltzer said that one expenditure was Coventry’s 30 year-old ladder truck. This year it has failed its safety test and the department must purchase a new one.
“This was something that we were trying to hold off another year,” he said. “Luckily, we have a special program, which gradually collects money for equipment purchases. We’ve been planning for this, so that it won’t affect the residents of Coventry.”
He said that not purchasing a new truck would actually increase taxes, because of insurance reasons.
Budget, from page 1
Seltzer said payroll has increased because of gradual step-raises for personnel. The fire department has also hired a full-time administrative assistant and plans on hiring one more personnel per station.
“We’re trying to meet the growth of the town,” he said. “Our bottom line is to provide service to everyone in the community when they need it.”
According to the budget report, the tax dollar increase per year is $10-$60, depending on house values. Each taxpayer will pay $2.50-$15 quarterly.
Seltzer said that by combining fire stations, they’ve been able to continue to keep costs low. He said that pension costs have been lowered, due to a larger number of firefighters. He also mentioned that Coventry is able to have more fire-safety programs that individually they couldn’t do.
“I’ve got to give it to this fire crew,” said Seltzer. “Everyday, I see them go to a truly professional level.”
|
