Bayshore commissioner cites rising apparatus costs as department seeks 10% increase

Gary Lawrence, commissioner for Bay Shore 54, told the Brightwaters board during a public hearing that the fire department faces steep equipment inflation and long manufacturing delays and is seeking budget adjustments to cover operations and apparatus replacement. "A 100 foot tower ladder truck that could have been purchased in 2018 for $1,000,000, it took 18 months to get that truck. Now it costs 2.25 to 2,500,000, and it's taking up to 4 years to build," Lawrence said, citing examples of how costs and lead times have changed fire-department budgeting.

Residents and trustees pressed Lawrence on who would bear the cost, noting large new apartment projects and municipal tax incentives in neighboring parts of town. Multiple speakers asked why Brightwaters homeowners must shoulder higher fire levies when developers received multi‑year tax breaks, and one trustee noted the department now consumes a substantial portion of the village budget. Lawrence said the department is pursuing grants and conversations with local hospitals and insurers but that, absent outside funds, rising operational and capital costs must be distributed across the service area.

The board opened and later closed the public hearing; members did not vote on a final funding change at the meeting but discussed pursuing a town-level working session to seek coordinated solutions with the developer, insurers or Northwell officials.