Sabattus to ask voters whether to use $2 million federal earmark for fire station repair or new build

Sabattus officials told residents at an informational select board meeting that voters will decide on Nov. 4 how the town should use a $2 million congressional earmark for the fire station.

The board presented three options: authorize municipal officers to accept the $2 million to update the existing 72 Main Street fire station without additional local dollars; accept the $2 million to offset construction of a new station not to exceed $6 million (with a proposed $4 million bond); or reject the $2 million and return it to the federal government. The presenter cautioned that “the 2 million will not fix all of the existing issues,” and said an engineering study estimated roughly $4 million would be needed to fully address the building’s problems.

Why it matters: the current station lacks adequate on‑site sleeping quarters (staff have been sleeping in a shed), has longer response times tied to the facility layout, has limited decontamination space, and lacks a sprinkler or fully integrated alarm system. The board said those deficiencies drove the original congressional earmark and framed the ballot choices.

Financial tradeoffs were detailed at the meeting. Officials described a bond scenario where a $4 million bond could be structured for either 30 years (estimated annual payment about $266,417) or 20 years (about $312,556), and said a bond would increase property taxes by roughly $1 per $1,000 of assessed value (a $250,000 assessment would imply approximately $250 per year). The board noted that even with the $2 million federal contribution, additional capital would likely be required if the town opted to fully renovate the existing facility.

Supporters of keeping the funds argued the earmark provides a rare opportunity to address critical safety and operational gaps at reduced local cost; opponents warned about long-term debt service and urged careful consideration of the engineering estimate and scope. Meeting materials, including photographs of the current station and the engineering study summary, will be posted on the town website and social media for voter review.

The ballot question will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot. The board did not take a formal vote on a municipal bond at this meeting; members said the town will provide voters with the posted materials and that procedural steps (including any future public hearings or bond votes, if required) will follow the November referendum result.