Finance committee rejects $100,000 reserve transfer for Halifax fire wages

The Halifax Finance Committee voted down a $100,000 reserve fund transfer proposed to cover fire department wages, ending in a 3–2 vote against the measure on July 28.

Chair Jim Walters read the fire chief's request to the committee, saying, "The amount requested is $100,000 to be transferred to the fire department wages line 012205115." The letter, as read, said the funds would be used to cover shifts left open by a firefighter on approved family and medical leave and to prevent further reliance on mutual aid during periods with no local fire personnel available.

Committee members expressed sympathy for the department but questioned the timing and certainty of the chief's estimate. A committee member characterized the proposal as premature: "We just started the fiscal year... I don't think it's too soon for that," the member said, arguing the committee should see how revenues and expenses settle before committing reserve funds. Chief concerns included the difference between one-time revenues and ongoing salary needs: Walters noted town financial policy discourages using one-time funds for continuing salary obligations.

Resident Gordon Andrews urged caution about using reserve funds to overturn the town meeting's prior decisions: "The reserve fund is not supposed to be used to change a decision that was made by the [town] body," he said, pointing to the May town meeting vote on related budget items.

When the motion to approve the transfer was called, the roll call produced two yes votes (Frank Johnston and Chair Jim Walters) and three no votes (Cheryl Burke, Mike Bennett and EJ Bridal), so the motion failed. The committee did not adopt an alternate funding plan at the meeting.

The committee's decision leaves the fire department to manage staffing and overtime within its current budget for the near term; no follow-up action or new timeline for reconsideration was set at the meeting.