The council, which received an update about the fire station project from Brooks at its Monday night meeting, probably won't make any final decisions about the project until at least the winter, when it begins putting together next year's budget.

In the budget it approved last spring, the council declined to approve a $127,000 down payment on a roughly $2.2. million fire station, which has been under discussion for almost a decade, but set aside the same amount for design and construction work for the station. That work is now underway at a town-owned lot on U.S. Route 202, next to the former Carleton Woolen Mills building, which is the department's preference for a new site.

That amount, $127,000, was equal to the annual payments the town had been making on an unrelated 10-year loan, which was repaid last year. Because that $127,000 was freed up, Brooks has argued the project would not increase the town budget.

"I got a quote for $428,000," Schabert said. "Typically we replace our trucks every 15 years but we've let it go a little longer in the past. This one is 20 years-old."

The city has $176,000 saved for a new fire truck so far, and will add another $20,000 to the fund before the end of the year. Revenue from the city's gambling fund has also gone toward new fire trucks in the past, and usually has about $40,000 available each year.

Schabert said that the contract for the new fire truck must be signed by Oct. 25 and paid for within four months, giving the city until this winter to come up with the remaining $196,000. Schabert said he might be able to get another $30,000 by selling the old truck.

The council discussed waiting a few more years to raise more money before replacing the fire truck, but McCabe pointed out that the interest from a bank would be cheaper than the rising costs of a new truck. Schabert said truck prices could go up between 11 to 13 percent by next year, whereas the bank has a 3 percent interest rate.

Council member Tyler Miller asked how much the fire department spends for repairs each year. Schabert said it was about $15,000, but that money is budgeted separately from the funds for a new truck.