The Belmont Fire Department won a $1.45 million grant to hire six firefighters, but the town refused to accept. Instead it will ask to reduce the grant to cover just two new firefighters.
The Laconia Sun reports the town’s administrator and governing selectboard rejected the grant because of the added costs of the firefighters.
The grant. from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, paid for salary for three years for the new personnel, but after that the town would begin funding the positions. In addition, there would be training and gear expenses that the town would also have to pay. The town estimates the ongoing cost would be about $500,000 per year, or a property tax hit of $45 per $100,000 of property.
Firefighters lobbied to accept the grant, pointing out that additional firefighters would lower residents’ insurance costs,
However, instead the town will ask FEMA if the grant can be reduced. In part, the selectboard said, the problem stems from a lack of communication with the department. The town knew the grant was being sought, but did not know the amount or specifics.
