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Pownal public safety budget rises 22%; Chief cites roster growth and Engine #2 pump repairs
Summary
Public Safety Chief Jesse Peters presented a FY26 request of $225,744, a 22% increase driven by increased staffing (volunteer roster up from 13 to 27), training and equipment needs, a planned $10,000 refurbishment of Engine #2’s pump and a request for an additional 500 gpm 'blitz fire gun.'
Public Safety Chief Jesse Peters told the Select Board on March 10 that the department’s FY26 budget request is $225,744, an increase of roughly 22% over last year. Peters said the rise is driven mainly by compensation owing to an expanded roster (from 13 to 27 volunteers and three officers), higher training costs, equipment replacement and a needed major repair to Engine #2’s pump.
Chief Peters said Engine #2 is still operable but testing disclosed a pump problem that is expected to worsen; he estimated the pump refurbishment at about $10,000 and said the truck would be covered by neighboring towns’ dispatch while it is sent for repairs. Peters also requested purchase of an additional “blitz fire gun,” a self‑operating nozzle capable of delivering about 500 gallons per minute, and noted higher costs for hose and ladder testing due to new forestry hose testing requirements. He said one defibrillator needs replacement and that expanded staffing raised PPE and training costs.
The department added a cell phone stipend line to offset use of personal phones, and Peters noted software costs will fall because the department will switch to free state software that provides basic functionality. The Select Board thanked Peters for a detailed presentation; no formal vote on the department budget occurred at the March 10 meeting as the board considered multiple departmental requests together as part of the FY26 budget process.
