Adams Fire District Budget Adds SAFER Grant to Total
ADAMS, Mass. — The Fire District is now eyeing a total budget of $3,633,690.73, a 26 percent increase from this year.
Although this increase is more than double the previously reported anticipated amount of $3,159,077.78, a 9.67 percent increase, the amount through taxation remains unchanged as the total will include a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant.
The proposed budget would still raise the district tax rate by 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, resulting in a new rate of $1.17, however, the exact amount will not be known until the town determines on property valuations in the fall.
The total amount is up by $753,090 over this year's $2,880,601.
If the budget is passed as is, the overall FY27 tax increase for a single-family home will be $73.15 per year, or $6.10 per month.
The recent change in the budget adds a request to the annual meeting warrant to authorize the Prudential Committee to apply for and receive $645,000 in funding through a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant.
The district will be responsible for a 25 percent contribution of $53,534.26. The grant will fund two full-time firefighters, if received.
The most significant change to this year's budget involves how the district allocates funds between the general fund — covering fire services, administration, and street lighting — and the enterprise fund, which supports the Water Department.
This year, the district is planning for a split of 40 percent for the general fund and 60 percent for the enterprise fund, compared to last year's 30-70 split.
The district is proposing an enterprise fund of $1,699,045.81 and a general fund of $1,934,644.92.
During its meeting on Monday, the Prudential Committee removed a warrant article to request $10,000 for an inspection of the Bassett Brook Dam because the Water Department obtained a state grant to cover the cost of the inspection.
The inspection is required every five years until the dam loses its satisfactory/fair condition classification.
The last classification from an inspection in 2022 was fair and had a range of maintenance recommendations that the department has been doing in-house to save on costs.
The new inspection was done by GEI Consultants, contracted and fully funded by the state through the Dam Owners Technical Assistance Program. The results of the inspection are not available yet.
Contributing to the increase in the operating budget are higher health insurance costs, which rose by about $27,636, and an increase in the retirement assessment of $29,946.
The district is proposing a general fund budget of $1,214,432.86 for fiscal year 2027, which makes up the administration department salaries and expenses, employee benefits and insurance, Fire Department salaries and expenses, maturing debt, and street lighting.
Fire Department compensation is one of the main drivers to the increases in the general fund, including the chief's salary, a rise of $10,010.51, the department coverage compensation increase of $35,050, and a request for a full-time firefighter for $82,500.
The district is proposing an enterprise fund budget of $1,944,644.92, which had a smaller increase from last fiscal year of 0.07 percent.
Voters can also expect several warrant articles requesting funds from free cash and enterprise retained earnings; the district has $544,348 in free cash and a retained earnings balance of $496,288.
Warrants for allocations from free cash include $40,000 for the reserve fund and $8,000 for a space needs assessment.
There is also a request for $44,000 from free cash to fund the purchase of the station's shoring support system.
The deteriorating condition of the fire station and Water Department building required the district to install shoring to stabilize the structure, which costs about $2,000 a month.
Addressing the building's deteriorating condition or relocating the departments will take several years, so purchasing the $44,000 shoring system may be more feasible. There will be an article on the condition of the building in the near future.
The Prudential Committee also approved the appointment of Elizabeth Kopec for the assistant clerk and treasurer position, starting May 4. She is starting on the first step, with an hourly rate of $27.49.
Tags: fire district, fiscal 2027,
