Fire department budget approved

A request for a nearly 10% fire department budget increase didn’t fly with town and village of Belgium officials, but the groups found middle ground Monday night.

The Belgium Fire Department, a private organization that serves the town and village of Belgium, holds a meeting each fall to determine the following year’s budget. The town and village contributions are split according to property value.

The department asked for a $146,700 budget for 2021, nearly a 10% increase from this year’s $134,500.

Town Chairman Tom Winker said the town’s budget is allowed to increase by 2% each year, according to the state.

“Our taxpayers expect us to be at zero percent,” he said.

Any more money for the fire department, he said, comes out of the town’s budget for road upkeep. He listed some of the creative ways the town saved money and suggested the fire department hold a fundraiser.

“We as a fire department need to come up with innovative ideas,” Winker said.

Village President Pete Anzia agreed the increase was too high.

“I don’t know if there’s a way to trim it a little bit,” he said.

Fire Chief Dan Birenbaum said the department could cut some of its new equipment budget and property maintenance, including grass cutting and snow plowing.

The entities ultimately approved a $139,000 budget, a 3.24% increase.

The town will pay 57.48%, or $79,897. The village will pay 42.52%, or $59,102.

Those numbers are slightly different than last year, when the town covered 57.91%, or $77,888, and the village paid 42.09%, or $56,611.

Birenbaum said the department needs new breathing apparatuses which cost about $163,000. A new compressor will cost another $34,000.

The department’s air packs are 19 years old and their displays and speakers aren’t working well, Birenbaum said.

He isn’t sure how long the packs will meet National Fire Protection Association standards and doesn’t recommend spending $30,000 to upgrade packs that are near the end of their lifespan.

The department bought the packs in 2002 through a Federal Emergency Management grant. Recent requests for grants have been turned down.

Winker suggested contacting a grant-writing expert, citing his recent experience on a state committee that awarded road grants.

“It’s very obvious the ones that are professionally written get the money,” Winker said.

Birenbaum said the department contacted grant writers but didn’t receive responses.

Village Trustee Rose Sauers suggested trying a gofundme page.

Birenbaum said that could be an option and noted that the last new engine the department bought was funded by raffling off a house instead of requesting a tax increase.

“I would agree, Dan, it hasn’t been a go-to-the-taxpayers fire department,” Town Supr. Bill Janeshek said.

The department also is considering sending a letter to each taxpayer in the town and village asking for support.

The fire house may have to replace an air conditioner, Birenbaum said.

Winker suggested the town share some of the money it got from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Recovery Act.

Another large cost is on the horizon as a 2002 rescue squad is slated to be replaced in 2022 for an estimated $230,000, according to its equipment replacement schedule.