Town budget meeting is Monday

The Town of Belgium on Monday will ask residents to spend $43,305 more than the state-allowed levy limit in order to help pay for a new fire truck as part of its 2019 budget.

The Belgium Fire Department last month requested money to replace its 1993 grass fire truck, with costs to be split between the town and village of Belgium that it serves.

The village and town agreed to pay $75,000, with the village paying $31,695 (43.26%) and the town $43,405 (57.74%). The breakdown is based on equalized property value.

The truck costs $89,264. The fire department is picking up the extra $14,000.

The only two places to pull the money from would be the roads budget, which the board didn’t deem to be a good idea.

The increase translates to 15 cents per $1,000 of equalized value, which translates to $30 more on a $200,000 home.

The fire department plans to buy a pickup truck from Ewald Automotive Group for $33,419 and add $55,845 of equipment.

A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5. The tax levy is $459,405, which includes money for the fire truck, with the total budget coming to $624,190.

A meeting of the electors will follow with three items to vote on: exceeding the levy limit by $43,305; the local tax levy of $459,405; and road expenditures of $324,700.

The monthly Town Board meeting will follow, at which supervisors may approve the 2019 budget.