Wayne budget committee prioritizes capital repairs, flags $600,000 fire truck gap
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Summary
At its Feb. 10 meeting the Town of Wayne budget committee reviewed an initial FY2027 budget draft, highlighted capital needs including a potential $600,000 fire truck purchase and dam and bridge repairs, and identified potential funding gaps despite an existing $430,000 reserve for the truck.
The Town of Wayne budget committee opened its first FY2027 workshop on Feb. 10 and focused on capital priorities that could shape the coming warrant and funding requests. Shannon, who presented the draft budget materials, said the town is developing a five-year asset plan to estimate replacement needs and that several major projects — notably a new fire truck and repairs to local dams and bridges — may require new appropriations or financing.
Shannon said the fire chief is evaluating replacement vehicles “they range about 600,000,” and noted the town’s fire-truck capital reserve currently holds about $430,000, leaving a likely shortfall if the committee approves a full replacement this year. The committee discussed options to bridge gaps including draw-downs of reserve accounts, requesting grant matches, or using bank financing; several members said they expected the infrastructure committee to explore grant opportunities and recommend whether to seek matching funds.
Committee members and staff also flagged the Tempe Bridge and Lovejoy Pond Dam for near-term review. An engineering inspection of Tempe Bridge led to posting and a warning that if weight limits are reduced the structure could be at higher risk within a two- to ten-year window. Shannon recommended the infrastructure committee review three repair/replacement options and seek grant or bond possibilities where appropriate.
Shannon walked the committee through the capital-reserve spreadsheet in the binder: she reported $228,272 had been expended from the road reconstruction account on recent projects (Green Tree Road, Bessie Road, Strickland Ferry Road). She also said the fire-equipment account showed $426,795 (a figure that will accrue modest interest this summer), and noted $37,189 had been spent on personal protective equipment and breathing-air bottles. An accounts-payable item expected at an upcoming Select Board meeting included $8,547 for gas meters.
On potential funding strategies, members discussed talking with the town’s bank about terms for long-term loans for major projects and said the infrastructure committee should weigh long-term maintenance strategies (for example, whether to prioritize crack-sealing and routine maintenance versus repairing the worst roads first). Shannon said she would follow up with outside agencies and the transfer station operators to confirm cost-allocation methods and bring refined proposals to the next meetings.
The committee agreed to review these capital items in detail at upcoming sessions and to coordinate with the Select Board on warrant language and potential joint meetings to ensure funding decisions are clear before the warrant-writing stage.