The Turkey Creek Fire Territory Board held a special meeting Monday, to discuss the tax levy for the equipment replacement fund and the design for renovating Fire Station I.

Syracuse Town Councilman Brian Woody opened by asking on behalf of the town council if fire chief Mickey Scott would attend the town council meetings to answer questions regarding expenditures on equipment and special projects such as the fire station renovation. “I don’t remember why we decided to go up (making the existing building a two story) rather than buy a house,” Woody said. “I think it would be good for you to come to those meetings.”

Syracuse Town Council President Bill Musser, explained the council was concerned because the equipment replacement budget was advertised at $170,000 while the levy was at $401,000. There was some confusion as to whether it was the budget levy or the actual budget that was advertised in the paper.

Musser said he spoke to Scott and learned the tax levy is decreasing due to assessment. If things continue to progress as they have, eventually the levy will lower itself due to assessment depreciation. Scott explained over the last five years the assessment has dropped.

Discussion turned to how much would be collected over the next 10 years with Woody stressing the budget would be $2.1 million over 10 years. Musser explained the budget had been lowered, not the levy. He agreed the levy seemed high now.

The levy would collect $2.3 million when the board agreed to collect $1.7 million. Scott explained the levy won’t stay that way and the board had to look at the past to plan for the future.

“You plan for the worst and hope for the best,” he told the board. Bill Dixon, a member of the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board, suggested locking in the $170,000 amount in the equipment replacement fund for longer than 10 years. It was noted after 20 years $311,330 would be collected.

“I’m just asking why we’ll have over $4 million when we replace everything,” Woody asked. “We agreed to $170,000 a year then we’ve levying for $230,000 more than that. What matters is the levy.”

“The chief’s explanation is you need a cushion,” Dixon said. Discussion turned to finding a middle ground with Musser suggesting picking an amount between $170,000 and $430,000 to set the levy.
“I think it’s a great idea, but I have to ask why we’re holding $430,000 of taxpayer money,” Woody said.

Kim Cates, president of the fire territory board and a member of the township advisory board, asked Woody if he intended to vote against spending any money for the territory while tax dollars are continuously added to the equipment fund.

She pointed out of the $1.8 million the fire territory already acquired, the fire station renovation, a new equipment truck and a new grass truck were to be paid for from those funds. Scott also pointed out 30 percent of the fund had to remain from one year to the next. Total cost for the fire station renovation, equipment truck and grass truck is estimated at $920,000.

Scott stressed the levy would continue to decrease. Brad Jackson, asked why not decrease it faster since the concern is hitting maximum levy.

Musser pointed out both Woody and Jackson are right there needs to be a medium ground found that everyone can agree on.

Dixon suggested instead of doing a multi-year deal, doing a short-term deal of three to five years and revisiting the matter. He then asked if Scott would object to revisiting the levy every year.

Cates said planning needs to be done three to five years in advance.

The question turned to how far above $170,000 to set the levy. Jackson said he would be comfortable with $275,000. The motion was made and board approved it.

The board then moved to go forward with the fire station renovation with the costs not to exceed $550,000. Musser and Woody will go back to the town council since the council still has to vote on the expenditure now that the levy question has been answered.