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Denmark board proposes restricted turnout-gear reserve after debate over $4,000 clothing line
Summary
Committee members suggested forming a restricted turnout-gear reserve and reducing the annual clothing line to seed the account after learning the fire department holds about $12,000 in donations; the committee asked staff and the chief to return with clear rules and a warrant article.
Denmark select board members and the budget committee debated whether the town should continue budgeting a $4,000 clothing line for the municipal fire department or create a restricted reserve to smooth large, infrequent gear purchases.
Committee members noted the department’s donation account holds roughly $12,000 and questioned whether donations could or should pay for turnout gear. One member observed the town ordinance requires board approval before the department spends from that account.
Members proposed reducing the annual clothing appropriation to $2,000 and seeding a new restricted turnout-gear reserve with surplus unexpended funds at year-end. The idea would allow the fire chief to draw on a designated capital/reserve account for predictable wear-and-tear items (gloves, hoods) while preserving transparency for donations and larger capital purchases.
The board asked staff and the fire chief to return with specifics: a recommended annual contribution, the account name and restrictions, and clarification of past expenditures (which years purchases were one-offs versus recurring upkeep) so the committee can draft a warrant article that complies with ordinance requirements.
Why it matters: Creating a restricted reserve would change how donated funds and annual budget dollars are presented to voters and could reduce the need to ask taxpayers for large, one-time appropriations when multiple pieces of turnout gear must be replaced at once.
Next steps: Staff and the fire chief will prepare a proposal that lists typical annual clothing costs, recent large purchases, the ordinance basis for approvals, and a draft warrant article to establish the restricted reserve.
