The township Fire-Rescue Department will soon ask voters to approve the purchase of a new fire engine, and without raising taxes. The company's two fire trucks are over 20 years old and costly to maintain. It outlined plans to replace the aging trucks with a single new fire engine at an open house Tuesday at the firehouse on Smithville Road.
During a special election on Aug. 26, residents will be asked to approve the purchase of an apparatus not to exceed $585,000 and utilize $300,000 of the fire district’s capital reserve.
As a result of those budgetary savings, along with additional revenue generated from various construction projects around town, including Eastampton Place and Eastampton Place West on Woodlane Road, fire district taxes will not increase.
Should voters approve the purchase, officials hope to buy the new engine in 2018. It would take nine to 12 months to build and would be delivered sometime in 2019. The lease is expected to last 10 years, with the first payment due in 2020.