By Carole Gilbert Brown
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
CARNEGIE, Pa. — Carnegie council voted unanimously Monday night to reopen the 2008 budget to include an expenditure of $200,000 for the Carnegie Volunteer Fire and Rescue Bureau, which says it needs $67,000 by today to stay in business.
Where the money would come from remains undecided.
While discussion is continuing over how to give the bureau more operating money, council president Bob Kollar said the borough would write a $37,000 check to the bureau to use as it chooses because that money already is included in the budget.
The fire bureau says it needs more than $24,000 to pay three months of back mortgage payments to Fidelity Bank. It also needs $20,000 next month to make a pumper truck payment.
“We’re going to let you decide how you’re going to spend the money,” Mr. Kollar told fire bureau president Jeff Scott, adding that council also is trying to get the public to help with the decision on how any additional funds could be provided to the firemen.
Council will sponsor a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 24 in the municipal building to accept public suggestions.
The fire bureau has requested that between 1.2 and 2 mills of property tax money be dedicated to fire protection.
Solicitor Joseph Lucas said the borough can levy property tax rates up to 30 mills, with as much as three mills dedicated to the fire department. However, he was not sure that state tax enabling statutes allow the institution of an actual fire fee per family, which is another funding mechanism under consideration.
Mr. Scott said he favored a 1.2-mill dedicated tax because residents could declare the amount a deduction on their federal income tax returns.
Though he and councilman Fred Carini complained about council’s procrastination, Mr. Kollar promised that officials would not stop working on the issue.
Manager Stephen Vincenti said there would be sufficient time to advertise any proposed ordinances that arise from next week’s meeting to meet public notice requirements. The borough has a Feb. 15 deadline to adopt a 2008 budget.
“We don’t know what the answer is yet, but we’re going to find a solution,” Mr. Kollar said.
However, he also cautioned that officials need more information on fire bureau operations, such as clarifying comingled funds from the fire department and EMS service, which is financed through third-party insurance billing. The borough is looking for a local auditor to assist.
“We can’t just give away money,” he told Mr. Scott.
Acting Mayor Tom Snyder asked why the fire bureau hasn’t received more federal and state grants like other area fire departments. Mr. Scott replied that it had received all the grant money it was entitled to.
Copyright 2008 P.G. Publishing Co.