BELLEFONTE — To better serve the community, the Bellefonte Fire Department is considering the purchase of a new $1.8 million ladder truck, along with a potential small tax increase.

As the Borough of Bellefonte begins to review its funds as part of budget planning for the coming year, Finance Director Lori McGowan explained during this week’s Borough Council work session how the acquisition of new fire apparatus and why it determined a tax increase of 0.12 million for the borough of Bellefonte. the ministry’s operating fund is necessary.

In his presentation, McGowan explained that the district recently paid off two equipment loans, freeing up funds for the new device.

“For next year, I haven’t changed anything, even though we have repaid two loans. I kept everything the same, so we could put money into capital projects to help pay for (the ladder truck),” she said.

The department is seeking a grant of up to $1 million to help cover the majority of expenses. However, the grant is not guaranteed and the truck cannot be ordered until they know if they will receive funds.

“If we don’t get the grant, we’ll end up with between $150,000 and $265,000 a year in payments between us and the townships,” McGowan said.

The fire department, made up of the Logan and Undine volunteer fire companies, is funded by borough tax revenues, contributions and a cost-sharing agreement with Spring, Benner and Marion townships, where the fire department The Bellefonte Fire is a designated first responder.

McGowan said the district should know within a year whether it received the grant. If the ministry decides to proceed with the purchase, it will take approximately three years from the order date to receive the vehicle.

She also mentioned that, depending on the payment plan chosen, the borough could achieve significant savings on equipment.

“If we finance the truck up front, we save between $350,000 and $400,000, but that means we have to start paying for the truck when we order it,” she noted.

As an added benefit, “having the ladder truck helps keep insurance rates lower for borough residents,” according to the financial director.

Council member Randy Brachbill, who serves on the fire department’s executive committee — the department’s governing body — added that while the department is looking for a new vehicle, it will retire two others from its fleet.

The firefighters’ budget is divided into two funds: the Equipment Fund, which covers the purchase of fire apparatus, and the Operating Fund, also known as the Firefighters’ Fund, which finances the allocation of fire chief, equipment maintenance, communication technologies. (like cell phones and iPads), workers’ compensation, business insurance and other expenses.

Although there were no major changes to last year’s Fire Equipment Fund budget, a slight increase in the department’s Operating Fund millage is necessary, according to the state’s chief financial officer. borough.

“For next year, in order to keep up with all of this…we need a tax increase of 0.12,” McGowan said, citing the rising costs.

The district is proposing to increase the millage to a total of 0.800 mills, which equates to $0.08 for every $100 of property valuation. The Fire Equipment Fund millage is expected to remain at .360 mill, or $.036 for every $100 of property valuation.

Councilor Barbara Dann questioned the possibility of billing residents’ insurance for fire services, since the borough passed an ordinance earlier this year allowing fire companies to bill insurance companies vehicle accidents. However, Borough Manager Ralph Stewart said he was unsure whether that option would be considered.

In order to maintain affordable service for Bellefonte residents, Councilor Brachbill mentioned that the borough could seek to enter into a new cost-sharing agreement with its partner townships. Since the conclusion of the agreement in 2010, each municipality has been represented on the BFDEC.

The department also struggles with a lack of a fire chief.

“We have two station chiefs and they work together, but it’s starting to get old,” Brachbill said.

Qualifications to become chief of the Bellefonte Fire Department, as outlined in Chapter 35 – the ordinance that established the fire department as an official office of the borough – require applicants to be active members of the service for at least six years and have performed the functions of chief. officer for at least three years, including at least one year as company chief of one of the Bellefonte fire companies. Additionally, applicants must obtain a series of certifications related to firefighting.

Brachbill explained that while it searches for a qualified candidate, the district may select an administrator to temporarily fill the role.

Neither Bellefonte Fire Department co-chief Bobbi Salvanish nor Gary Lohr were immediately available for comment.