How should the township pay for fire department vehicles that could cost millions of dollars? That's the question plaguing Forks Township supervisors, who voted Thursday to buy a new $787,000 rescue-pumper truck. Township Finance Manager Jim Farley provided supervisors Thursday with a financial forecast that may mean cuts in township department budgets and increased taxes for township residents next year.
Fire Chief Bill Carver told supervisors that the department's rescue truck and ladder truck are either in need of serious repair or outright replacement. A new 150-foot ladder truck could cost significantly more than a rescue truck.
The ladder truck is currently out of service while being repaired and several functions on the rescue truck, like the foam and water pumps, do not work.