Voters will be asked to OK a $10,299,321 budget plus $360,000 to purchase a Fire Department tanker truck.
Hampden Selectman John D. lynnHAMPDEN – At the April 25 annual Town Meeting voters will be asked to approve a fiscal 2012 town budget of $10,299,321 as well as a renovation of the fire station and the purchase of a $360,000 Fire Department tanker truck.
Also on the town meeting warrant is approval of a $30,000 pickup truck with plow for the Highway Department.
The proposed town budget includes a $355,787 appropriation to pay the yearly bond on the new Minnechaug Regional High School now under construction.
The Advisory Committee will meet again before the annual Town Meeting to decide whether $140,000 of the annual bonding payment for the new high school should come out of the town’s $1 million stabilization account.
The Advisory Committee also will make a recommendation on whether a proposed $100,000 to renovate the fire station should come out of the town’s Stabilization Account.
Selectmen Chairman John D. Flynn said he thinks townspeople should vote on whether to take those funds out of the town’s stabilization, or savings account, at the spring annual Town Meeting.
A new $360,000 Fire Department tanker truck is needed to replace two Fire Department trucks.
The size of the new pumper/tanker truck will require the renovation of the fire station. The fire station needs to be made bigger to store the new pumper/tanker truck, Selectman Richard R. Green said.
The annual Town Meeting is set for April 25 at 7 p.m. at Thornton W. Burgess School.
The Advisory Committee will meet April 21 at 6 p.m. at the Hampden Town Hall to finalize its budget recommendations.
