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Bradford County moves to budget $627,000 to staff new Brooker fire station pending assessment adoption
Summary
County leaders agreed by consensus to include about $627,000 in next year's budget to staff a new fire station in the Town of Brooker if the county adopts a planned fire assessment; Brooker has voted to proceed with the assessment process.
Bradford County commissioners gave county staff a consensus direction to include roughly $627,000 in next year's budget to cover staffing and operations for a new fire station in the Town of Brooker, contingent on final adoption of the county's fire assessment.
The action matters because the state appropriations awarded to build the station do not pay for personnel or ongoing operations, Chief Carter told the Board. "The cost to staff that station for personnel, operations, everything all inclusive would be right around $627,000," Carter said.
The county manager and fire chief said Brooker's council voted 5-0 to advance a second reading of the assessment and that the town will own the building once constructed. The county will bear long-term repair, maintenance, insurance and utility costs if it accepts staffing responsibility once the town titles apparatus to the county.
County officials described the funding mechanics: the state appropriation covers construction only; the county would apply for separate grants such as the federal SAFER grant when eligible; and the fire assessment is expected to cover 50% of the recurring cost with the remainder coming from county funding. Chief Carter noted the original staffing and cost projections were prepared two years ago and could shift with new development or updated appraisals.
Commissioners discussed municipal participation for the assessment. Chief Carter asked for guidance about communicating with Lawtey (which has not yet opted in) and other municipalities. Several commissioners urged further outreach to municipalities that had not joined and emphasized public-safety consequences if some towns opt out.
The Board did not take a binding vote on the staffing allocation at this meeting; commissioners provided consensus for the county manager to include the $627,000 estimate in the manager's proposed budget for the coming fiscal year pending adoption of the final assessment resolution.
Officials said a tentative budget will be presented Aug. 5 and the final assessment resolution public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 21; notices to assessed property owners will be mailed after the July 1 initial public hearing. "When we present that tentative budget to include dollar amounts," the county manager said, "it could change depending on whatever action the board takes on the 21st."
