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Weston trustees continue debate over fire fee as SAFER grant decision nears
Summary
Trustees spent more than an hour debating whether to seek a public referendum or implement an annual fire fee and how to respond to a potential SAFER grant that would add roughly nine firefighters over several years. No final funding decision was made; the board deferred further action into next month while staff monitors grant timing.
Trustees for the Village of Weston spent a lengthy portion of their meeting debating how to fund additional fire staffing if the town is offered a federal SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant and whether to ask voters to decide the question in a referendum.
The board heard that a SAFER award would cover about 65% of the upfront cost for the first two years and that the total program staffing and related costs are roughly $1,000,000; municipalities would need to cover the remaining 35% in the grant years and increasing shares in later years. A SAFER official present told the board, “The grant will cover 65% of the cost, and the cost is approximately $1,000,000,” and cautioned that an award decision could arrive within weeks.
Why it matters: Accepting a SAFER award without a sustainable local revenue plan…
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