Bowmanstown Borough Council met the fire company’s request for a dedicated tax with a $2,000 donation for the next three years.

On a 4-2 vote at a special meeting this week, members agreed to a donation in 2017, 2018 and 2019.In favor were council members Burdell Steigerwalt, Norman Engle Jr., Pam Leiby and council President Kara Scott, with Rob Moyer and John Domant opposed. Councilman Darren Thomas was absent.Council’s decision came after it held a meeting to discuss the 2017 budget.Last month, fire Chief Michael Spairana asked council to consider passing a 2-mill fire tax.Spairana, citing a lack of volunteers and increased costs, said that would generate an additional $22,000 to $24,000 for the fire company.The fire department’s expenses are $60,000, which he said leaves no money to update equipment. Money that would be generated from the 2-mill fire tax would go toward the cost of the department, Spairana said.Committee’s stanceMoyer addressed the fire company’s request as several members of the fire company sat in attendance Wednesday.“The committee’s recommendation is that we not increase millage,” said Moyer, who added that isn’t because fire protection isn’t necessary in the borough, but, rather, it doesn’t believe a tax increase is the way to go.Afterward, Engle made a motion for a 1-mill increase for fire protection.“I am looking at the logic,” Engle said. “Thirty percent of the people in this town support the fire company; what about the other 70 percent?”Engle added, “It’s time we stand up for our fire company. They asked for 2 mills. I’m proposing 1.”The motion died.One mill generates about $14,900 for the borough.Frustrated, Engle asked, “Does anyone really know what it costs to run the fire company?Domant, who previously served as the fire department’s financial secretary, said he disagreed with Spairana that the social hall’s bar and fire side are two different entities.“They are not separate entities,” Domant said.Domant said that based on the figures, the bar side has a payroll of over $60,000, and asked the fire company if they were doing anything to cut expenses there.Bruce Koch, president of the fire company, attempted to address the situation.“Our forefathers decided that a good way to raise money was to have a bar,” Koch said.Koch added, “We weren’t handed a flower shop to run.”Domant contended that the loss of the ladies auxiliary was a blow.“That was a big, big asset to the fire company,” said Domant, who questioned what exactly happened to the auxiliary.Barbara Scheckler, former auxiliary member, said the auxiliary worked hard over the years, holding various functions.But as time wore on, she said the auxiliary wasn’t able to get enough volunteers to help out, and the auxiliary had to disband.“I think through the years, the auxiliary did a lot for the fire company,” Scheckler said.

Council’s proposalScott said a concern is that borough council has a duty to the residents who are already overburdened as one of the highest taxed municipalities in the county.“What I think we need to talk about are other ways we can support the fire company,” Scott said. “I’d like to put a call out to all residents to step up.”Steigerwalt was in favor of the donation. “We are not interested in giving you the 2 mills to increase our taxes,” Steigerwalt said.Moyer echoed Steigerwalt’s sentiment, and added that he does not believe increased millage is the way to go about it.“We want to help the fire company, but not through millage,” Moyer said.Fire company’s stanceSpairana said that while he understood council’s rationale, the fire company needs all the support it can get.“We’re going to need help,” Spairana said. “We need to have another source of revenue coming through.”Koch said the social hall and fire company are combined, and as a result, there’s a co-mingling of things.“I don’t want to be in the business of running a bar,” Koch said. “This is what was handed to us.”Steigerwalt said council’s offer was to donate $2,000 from the borough’s general account in each of the next three years.“This is what we have to give you,” he said. “This is where we stand.”Moyer said council’s final adoption of next year’s budget isn’t until December.“We’ll have at least two more budget meetings,” he said. “That could change.”However, based on health care numbers the borough has yet to receive, that figure could come down, council said.After the meeting, Koch said the fire company appreciates the fact that council is considering giving the donations.In addition to the $2,000 donation, the borough gives the fire company an additional $400 a month through Verizon leasing property from the borough to put up a cell tower; pays for the gas for their equipment; pays $8,000 for their workers’ compensation; gives them a tax mill in the amount of $5,170, and a miscellaneous account for any additions in the amount of $150, meaning the fire company received $21,620 from the borough this year.