NORWAY – Police and fire department chiefs told the Budget Committee on Wednesday night that training costs are essential to the success of their operations.

“Training is one of those areas we should spend money,” police Chief Rob Federico said.

Federico, and fire Chief Mike Mann and Deputy Chief Dennis Yates presented their fiscal 2009-10 budgets of $435,963 and $228,000, respectively.

Although salary costs accounted for about $307,000 for the Police Department and $90,000 for the Fire Department, training costs for both departments are no less important, officials said.

“Training is very important and it costs money,” Yates said of the Fire Department’s request for $6,000. The Police Department is requesting $15,500 in training costs.

Yates and Mann, who delivered his last budget after serving 15 years as fire chief and 20-plus years more on the Fire Department, said the cost of training has escalated significantly.

The training is necessary in part to provide the certification needed to allow a firefighter to go inside a burning structure. With only 12 to 14 of the firefighters now currently certified and a state mandate that at least two certified firefighters be in a burning building when necessary and two outside it, Mann said it is difficult sometimes to work under those conditions.

With lack of manpower, and manpower with the proper certification, the results can be disastrous such as when a house in Hebron burned to the ground this past year because of a lack of certified manpower, he said.

Costs for the Police Department include items such as executive development training for the chief and specific sexual assault training for the detective, Federico said.

Both departments noted a decrease in their motor fuel budget because the cost of fuel is down this year.

The Police Department is asking for an increase in its computer account to update two machines.

The Fire Department is requesting more funding for its protective clothing account, which is already $3,400 over budget this year.

Mann is asking for $12,000 in the protective clothing line item. It costs about $1,500 to $1,600 to outfit one firefighter.

Town Manager David Holt has recommended decreases in training and several other areas for both departments.

“I don’t like any of the cuts, but I felt I had to make them,” he told the Budget Committee.

The committee will continue to meet with department heads over the next several weeks, deliberate and vote on each budget that will go before town meeting in June for final approval.

The proposed town budget stands at $2.5 million.