The Lakewood Fire Dept budget for 2022 was approved last month by the board at $8,892,315 Million up $600k from last year. However this comes after the Dept raised an additional $1.6 million in taxes to purchase a new ladder fire truck by asking it as a ballot question in the general elections this past November. Lakewood residents voted YES to spend the money by 65% - 35% (8191 - 4277) that money is separate from the yearly budget. In 2020 the LFD budget was $7 million and in 2017 it was $5 million. Up until this year the budget had to be voted on by a separate election,that has changed and the public no longer votes on it. See budget resolution here in Latest documents section
Ballot question from the November general election that was approved by the voters.
Do you authorize the Board of Fire Commissioners to expend an amount not to exceed $1,600,000.00 for the purchase of one replacement tower fire apparatus and necessary equipment to make the emergency response vehicle functional, with funding through capital appropriations and/or financing of same by the issuance of notes, bonds or execution of leases with an option to purchase agreements?
Explanatory Statement:
The district's growth and expansion over the years, along with federal and state mandated upgrades, has created the need for more technologically advanced emergency response units. The proposed purchase shall meet the needs of the residences, business and property owners within the district and legislative mandates. The proposed tower ladder fire apparatus will replace a 12-year old tower ladder fire apparatus which has become obsolete. The one fire apparatus replaced will be sold or traded in to offset the cost of the proposed procurement. The project as proposed is anticipated to have a minimal impact on the tax rate.
The LFD created new paid positions that were not around in previous years and today they put out some PR news articles about a drone
ReplyDeletewhere is all the tax dollars going this makes no sense there are so many retables bringing in more money but they keep raising taxes. It should go down and residents should get a refund instead they spend it like water
Fire commissioner here (speaking ok my own and not for the board). The drone was purchased with a grant it did not cost the tax payers of Lakewood. As far as hiring goes, over a year ago he hired a full time chief and in the past year we hired more paid firefighters. It's what Lakewood needs. We are turning into a city and we need more manpower. If you have an issue feel free to show up at a meeting. You can mail in correspondence to us continuously and it will be read at the meeting. Speak to any of us, we are more than happy to explain.
ReplyDeleteThe meetings are not publicly advertised like the press releases
DeleteWhy purchase a Fire Tower Apparatus as opposed to a Ladder Truck, which surrounding towns have recently purchased a Fire Tower Apparatus?
DeleteWhy is the town funding a volunteer department besides the paid dept
ReplyDelete