FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the 2011-12 unorganized territory budget at $969,823.

The spending plan that goes into effect on July 1, 2011, represents an $11,771 decrease from the current budget and $97,953 more than the 2009-10 budget.

The largest increase in next year’s package is the Salem Fire Department’s budget of $30,676. It reflects a $7,111 increase over the current budget and includes $1,500 for reserves for a firetruck and equipment.

Bill Peterken, a representative of the department, gave commissioners an overview of the budget.

“We’re purely a volunteer Fire Department,” Peterken said.

The budget contains funding for the absolute core function of the department, he said.

“What we are budgeting for is necessary equipment,” he said.

The largest increase is under the truck maintenance line, which was increased from this year’s $1,500 to $5,000 for next year. Another increase was $3,500 for turnout gear for new firefighters volunteering to serve.

Firefighters have been taking necessary training, Peterken said, and four firefighters, half of the department, finished taking a course through the fall on Monday night. It was put on by Carrabassett Valley fire Chief Courtney Knapp, he said.

Firefighters pay for gas to go to training out of their own pockets, he said.

The biggest responsibility the department has, Peterken said, is covering Mt. Abram High School on Route 142.

“We do our training so if something happens at that school those kids will be safe,” he said.

The proposed budget will allow the department to be in compliance with the state’s requirements.

Commissioner Fred Hardy of New Sharon said he appreciated Peterken coming down to explain the budget and the increase.

“I appreciate that we have people like you, (Chief) Steve Viles and the others,” he said.

However, Hardy said, that he does not know how long the county would be able to maintain the department if the budget continues to increase 30 percent a year.

He realizes, Hardy said, that the increases are legitimate expenses.

“We’re going for absolutely bare necessity,” Peterken said. “What is going into this budget is to fight fires.”

The fire station doesn’t even have a bathroom, he said. Firefighters go home when necessary for that purpose, he said.

Firefighters don’t even have badges. The badge the chief wears was given to him by his kid about 20 years ago, he said.

“If it doesn’t fight fires, it is not in the budget,” Peterken said.

Hardy said he realized that.

What disturbs him, he said, is that firefighters are called out to remove trees from Route 142. That should be the state’s responsibility, he said.

Fire departments are not just fighting fires. They respond to accidents, trees in the road, power lines down and many other safety issues, he said.

“This isn’t us trying to climb the budgetary ladder. The state has very strict requirements,” Peterken said.

It is working to be in complete compliance with the state. Firefighters are in an intense training program, he said.

Firefighters have made vast improvements over the years and are saving more structures, he said.

Commissioner Meldon Gilmore of Freeman Township said that when he lived in Salem, you hoped like “hell” that your house didn’t catch on fire because you would have had a cellar hole left.

In his opinion, Gilmore said, having a local fire department in the rural area has made a difference, he said.

All of the equipment the department has received and the fire station building has been donated, Commission Chairman Gary McGrane of Jay said.

He asked that commissioners receive a copy of reports of training and other records so that they will be aware of what is going on.

“I don’t see anything in the budget that is overly excessive,” McGrane said.

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