Brockport fire budget takes big jump

The Village of Brockport has proposed a fire protection contract for the year 2001 to the two towns it serves - Sweden and Clarkson - that takes a 21 percent jump over last year’s budget.

This year, fire protection is costing the three municipalities a total of $434,286, while next year’s projected cost is $526,412.

The $92,000 increase is attributable to four main factors, according to Village Budget Director Scott Rightmyer. A large increase in workmen’s compensation cost reflects both a statewide rate increase and the effects of recent local injuries. The dispatch office returning to 24 hours per day, seven days a week increases costs for the fire department. Brockport charges the fire department with 25 percent of the cost of running the dispatch office, Rightmyer said. The remaining 75 percent of the cost of running the dispatch office is divided evenly among the village police, water and general government departments.

A third factor is increased funds for truck replacement. Rightmyer said that the village has been putting aside too little the last few years for scheduled truck replacement and the account needed to be increased. Finally, the cost of replacing the firefighters’ Cascade system - breathing apparatus - is substantial.

Those four items account for about two-thirds of the $92,000 increase, Rightmyer said. The remaining increase is spread throughout the budget in relatively small amounts, he said.

The budget increase will be felt more deeply in the towns, particularly Sweden, than in the village. A formula using the municipalities’ total assessed tax base determines the share each pays. During the past several years, the village’s assessed base has been dropping, while the two towns’ assessed bases continue to rise.

Last year, the Village of Brockport was responsible for 26.8 percent of the fire contract, or about $116,400; this year its portion drops to 23.4 percent for $123,200 - about a seven thousand dollar increase. The Town of Clarkson’s share remains about the same - last year at 32.2 percent it paid $139,840; this year at 32.3 percent it will pay $170,000 - about a thirty-thousand dollar increase. Sweden gets hit with the lion’s share of the increase - last year it paid 41 percent or $178,000; this year it will pay 44.3 percent or $233,200 - a $55,000 increase.

The Town of Sweden received the village’s proposal on October 24, the same day the town held its public hearing on its proposed budget. Sweden hadn’t included a $55,000 increase in its special district assessment (the fire contract is not part of the town’s general budget), because Sweden Finance Director Elaine Jones said, the town hadn’t anticipated a 31 percent increase.

Sweden will hold a public hearing on the fire protection contract for its residents on November 14 at 7:15 p.m. at the municipal building, 18 State Street.