The Hudson Board of Selectmen reviewed different warrant articles during the most recent meeting, including for the Fire Capital Reserve Funding.
The warrant article states: “Shall the Town of Hudson vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $225,000 of which $50,000 will be added to the Fire Apparatus Capital Reserve Fund previously established March 14, 2000, $150,000 will be added to the Fire Apparatus Refurbishment/ Repair Capital Reserve Fund previously established March 11, 2008 and $25,000 will be added to the Fire Equipment Capital Reserve Fund previously established March 18, 2011? The appropriation is in addition to Article A, the Operating Budget.”
Town Administrator Steve Malizia said they essentially combined three different capital reserve fund requests into one warrant article.
The estimated tax rate impact is four cents.
For the Fire Apparatus Capital Reserve Fund it was explained by Fire Chief Scott Tice that the “funding for this capital reserve fund was established through a Town of Hudson warrant on March 14, 2000.”
“The intention of this capital reserve fund was 10 fund the purchasing and replacing fire apparatus,” Tice wrote. “In total, this accounts for the purchase and replacement of numerous pieces of fire apparatus including our pumpers, tanker, ladder truck, and forestry units.”
It was explained that the “expected lifespan of a piece of large tire apparatus can be as many as twenty years, but it may also be shorter. When this account was established, the intention was for the units to be replaced on a regular cycle.”
“For informational purposes, a replacement pumper will exceed $825,000, a ladder truck is close to $2,000,000,” Tice wrote. “The consistent funding of this Capital Reserve Fund will assist the Town by providing a mechanism allowing replacements to the fleet. This fund allows saving to take place over several years, to assist keeping the tax rate stable and not require the emergency raising of’ funds in one fiscal year.”
For the Fire Apparatus Refurbishment/Repair Capital Reserve Fund it was explained that the”funding for this capital reserve fund was established through a Town of Hudson warrant on March 11, 2008. The intention of this capital reserve fund was to fund the refurbishment and repair of the fire department’s fire apparatus. In total, this accounts for the maintenance and repair of numerous fire apparatus of our fleet.”
“The expected lifespan of a piece of large fire apparatus can be as much as 20 years,” Tice explained. “When this account was established, the intention was for the units to receive an updating and repair of all of the major components of the specific piece of fire apparatus. This is slated to take place at the ten year mark, roughly half way through its lifecycle. This mark was selected after a review of several pieces of apparatus struggled to remain operational to the end of their serviceable life.”
Tice explained that it will “allow for the savings to take place over several years, to assist keeping the tax rate stable and not require the raising of funds in one fiscal year.”
In addition it was explained that funding for the Fire Equipment Capital Reserve Fund was established in 2011.
“The intention of this capital reserve fund was to fund the purchasing of specialized fire and EMS equipment including, but not limited to, Firefighter Protective Clothing, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and Defibrillators,” Tice explained. “Currently our EMS Revolving fund is utilized for all EMS equipment, and specialized fire equipment is purchased through the operating budget when funding is available.”
It was explained by Tice that “Items that are slated for replacement in the coming years includes extrication equipment, hose, marine equipment, water rescue equipment, rescue task force protective clothing, SCBA and any and all fire suppression equipment removed from service.”
“The consistent funding of this Capital Reserve Fund will assist the Town with providing a mechanism allowing purchases of specialized fire equipment when funding is not available within the operating budget,” Tice wrote. “This fund allows saving to take place over several years, to assist keeping the tax rate stable and not require the emergency raising of funds in one fiscal year.”
The Board of Selectmen approved moving the warrant article forward.
