By MELINA BOURDEAU

Staff Writer

MONTAGUE — Voters will determine whether to fund the Turners Falls Fire District operating budget, upgrades to the exhaust system and allocating funds to the retiring Deputy Fire Chief at the annual Turners Falls Fire District meeting Tuesday at Turners Falls High School at 7 p.m.

The 18-article warrant includes housekeeping articles as well as a proposed $3,021,457 operating budget.

For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2020, the $3,021,457 budget will be composed of $2,361,604 from taxation, $50,000 from ambulance revenue and $609,853 from water revenue.

The budget is about a 6.6 percent increase from last fiscal year.

The 2019 budget of $2,826,952 with $2,193,695 from taxation, $38,500 from ambulance revenue and $594,757 from water revenue.

Another article proposes $40,000 for driveway repairs at the fire station to be taken from free cash. According to Turners Falls Fire Captain, Mike Currie said the repairs will be on the asphalt where trucks leave the station.

“The trucks are heavy. For example, the ladder truck is 40,000 pounds, they carry water and equipment. So, when the trucks pull out of the station, the impact on the asphalt creates depressions,” Currie said. “It breaks down the base material and this article will be able to make repairs to the impacted asphalt.”

There are two articles pertaining to Deputy Chief Leon Ambo, who will be retiring in the 2020 fiscal year.

One article is for “$19,000 for the separation pay for one-third of unused sick leave” and the other is “$12,500 for the unused vacation pay to the retiring Deputy Fire Chief.” Both would be paid for through free cash.

Voters will also decide on $25,500 for the exhaust system upgrade at the Fire Department.

Currie said the funds would improve exhaust system inside the fire department which help to safely eject fumes and exhaust from inside of the station.

Other articles include:

Appropriating $25,000 for the Stabilization Fund from free cash.

Appropriating $50,000 for the Stabilization Fund earmarked for the future purpose of purchasing a vehicle for the Fire Department.

Appropriating $10,000 to the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Fund from free cash.

Appropriating $50,000 for future water main replacements or repairs with $25,000 from water surplus and $25,000 from free cash.

Appropriating $20,000 for upgrades to the water metering system from water surplus.

Appropriating $11,500 to purchase a mowing tractor for the Water Department from water surplus.

Appropriating $8,000 to purchase an equipment trailer for the Water Department from water surplus.

Whether to establish the spending limit for the revolving fund for land management for fiscal year 2019 at $5,000.