Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves $60,000 split for volunteer fire departments and $1,000 donation to Mutual Aid EMS
Summary
Supervisors allocated $60,000 from the General Fund—split equally between Forbes Road and Slickville VFDs—and approved a $1,000 donation to Mutual Aid EMS; Mutual Aid's representative had reported low collection rates and a recent 17% rate increase.
Salem Township supervisors voted Nov. 20 to disburse $60,000 from the General Fund, to be split equally between Forbes Road Volunteer Fire Department and Slickville Volunteer Fire Department, and separately approved a $1,000 donation to Mutual Aid Emergency Medical Services.
Supervisor Kerry Jobe said the $60,000 disbursement is in addition to the township's 1% fire tax and is being paid from the General Fund so the township would not need to raise taxes for the payment. Resident Kent Boggs asked whether the 1% fire tax had been considered for increase; supervisors said the disbursement is intended to avoid a tax increase.
On the Mutual Aid EMS donation, board members recalled a presentation by Ken Bacha, a community organizer with Mutual Aid, who described the service's financial strain—an estimated 50–60% collection rate from insurers and a 17% increase in rates last year—and requested a per‑capita contribution; the township approved a $1,000 complimentary donation in response.
All motions carried unanimously. The allocations will be processed through the township's disbursement procedures.
