Upper Burrell temporarily shelves fire-tax proposal

Upper Burrell Supervisors will temporarily shelve a proposal for a 2-mill fire tax as they further study the finances of the township’s volunteer fire company, according to Supervisors Chairman Ross Walker.

In April, the board directed its solicitor to draw up a resolution for a 2-mill fire tax to pay for a new fire truck, which is expected to cost about $800,000.

The average homeowner would pay about $40 extra a year in township real estate taxes, according to Walker.

The volunteer fire department currently receives about $35,000 a year from the township’s local service tax, $20,000 from the general budget and insurance coverage for its vehicles.

“There’s no doubt that they need the equipment and a new truck,” Walker said. “We have to re-examine how much they are getting and how much more we will be adding to it.”

If supervisors approve the tax, it would be incorporated into the township’s budget for 2020.

Supervisors might revisit discussion of the fire tax as early as their next regular meeting at 7 p.m. June 5 in the township building at 3735 Seventh Street Rd.