Killington reduces fire department expenses

The Killington Select Board Tuesday reduced a $91,800 budgeted increase for the town volunteer fire department down to $6,800 after moving expenses into the General Fund and on to the ballot for town voter approval.
Selectman Jim Haff orchestrated moving $10,000 out of the new equipment line item for the replacement of dry hydrants destroyed by Tropical Storm Irene into the town’s “Flood” recovery expenses that were not reimbursed by the federal government.
That would mean the expense would be paid out of the General Fund, reducing the increase in the fire department’s divided budget.
Also, Haff suggested, and the remaining two members of the Board and fire representatives agreed, that voters should decide if they wanted to add $75,000 to the department capital reserve fund for the replacement of fire trucks and the item is expected to be put on the March ballot in a seperate article.
The town has committed to adding the usual $100,000 into the fund next year but the department was asking for more.