RUMFORD – Voters concerned about possible property tax changes decided Monday not to spend up to $1.9 million for land and construction of a new fire station.
It was the only article on the annual town meeting warrant to be rejected. The other 36 passed.
Despite pleas by Fire Chief John Woulfe and Selectman Eugene Boivin, who is a former fire chief, residents overwhelmingly voted no money for the fire station article, a recommendation made by the town’s Finance Committee.
“There is no good time to spend this amount of money,” conceded Boivin, “but the current fire station was built in the 1920s for horses. This building could be bonded for 15 years, with only $31 a year to be paid by people owning homes worth $100,000.”
But concerns from many about possible state property tax changes and a possibility that the state may withdraw reimbursement for personal property tax convinced most that spending extra money now wasn’t prudent.
Woulfe said a fire station task force, formed two years ago, recommended construction of a new fire station to meet the needs of a modern fire department. Modern firefighting apparatus is often too large for the current station.
He recommended passing the $1.9 million article because the cost will most likely grow larger the longer the town waits.
“We can’t afford to spend this amount of money at this time,” resident Eddie Shurtleff said.
Residents also agreed to participate in the state’s Pine Tree Development Zone program, for which Rumford has 281 acres eligible for certain tax incentives and reductions. Not everyone liked the idea, including selectmen’s Chairman Jim Thibodeau, who said the town doesn’t have to commit the entire 281 acres to the program. Others said that whether taxes come from the state or the town, everyone would be affected by such incentives and cuts.
Also passed were $16,000 for the town’s support of the River Valley Growth Council and $188,000 for the Parks Commission that plans to install a new lighted event sign at the foot of Lincoln Avenue.
Residents also approved discontinuance of a section of Spruce Street.
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