On a unanimous measure, borough council on Monday agreed to finance a new pumper truck for the Lehighton Fire Department.

That decision came after borough Manager Dane DeWire reviewed several options with borough council.

DeWire said that as of Feb. 1, the Pennsylvania office of the state fire commissioner has raised the maximum 2% loan amount for a heavy duty rescue apparatus to $353,547, which is $13,547 more than the borough anticipated.

He said the borough will put $200,000 down from the borough’s fire apparatus fund.

DeWire said Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank will pay the vendor in-full before construction of the apparatus, so the borough will receive the manufacturer’s $97,285 discount for paying in full.

He said of the $1,082,630 price tag, the borough will be financing $431,798 at 4.49% for 18 years through JTNB with an annual payment not to exceed $44,536.

DeWire said the $353,547 through the state will be financed at 2% for 20 years, with annual payments not to exceed $21,000.

He said the total annual cost of the apparatus will cost the borough about $65,000 annually.

Previously, council voted to approve a 1-mill tax increase for the fire apparatus, which was slated to bring in about $80,000 per year, DeWire said.

“The $15,000 difference, along with money that we’re currently putting into the fire apparatus fund will allow us to replenish that emergency reserve for fire vehicles at a rate of $25,000 per year,” DeWire said. “Since the tax millage will cover the equipment and we have the money for the down payment in reserves, there will be no negative effects to the borough’s finances.”

Borough fire Chief Patrick Mriss thanked borough council for the investment of the new fire apparatus.

Last month, borough council tabled discussion on the matter at the recommendation of Councilman Joe Flickinger so that each member of borough council could review the data.

DeWire said the borough applied for an LSA grant in 2024, and at the time the cost was $1.04 million.

The truck is now priced at $1.08 million, or $40,000 more than it had been.

Mriss said new Environmental Protection Agency emissions requirements are coming. The sooner the borough can get moving on this, they can hopefully avoid the new EPA emissions requirements for the diesel engines if they get the vehicle started before Jan. 27, 2027.

Borough council at a special meeting in December adopted the 2026 budget with a 1.25-mill increase, with 1 mill for the financing of a new pumper truck, while the other quarter of a mill is for the general fund.

The borough applied for a grant for the truck, but did not receive one.