Town Board amends special district budget, adds funding to fire companies
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

SCATTERGORIES - Jennifer Lazarz, left, led a game of Scattergories at the Amherst Center for Senior Citizens on Sept. 25. Mary Migliore and Shirley Dell'Amico compete to see who can think the fastest. Photo by John Rusac

In its first action on the tentative 2007 Town of Amherst budget, the Town Board restored $396,200 to the town's fire districts, which are part of the special district budget.

The vote passed, 6-0, at Friday's special meeting. Council Member William A. O'Loughlin Jr. was unable to attend the session.

Sponsored by Council Member Bill Kindel, the amendment will become official upon the adoption of the final budget - due the beginning of November.

The vote was taken before an audience of 45 town firefighters. Kindel, who called for the special meeting, wanted to ensure that the fire districts would have the funding needed.

"They submit their budgets, (which) provide the highest, best, more economical service to the residents within our town," Kindel said about the fire departments.

Supervisor Satish Mohan said there was never a problem with funding the fire districts, but he wanted to be aware of their line items. Prior to the special meeting, letters had been sent to the fire departments informing them they would be fully funded in 2007. Town Attorney Tom Jones said

the action by the Town Board is not the approval of the special district budget for 2007.

He said the Town Board adds to or subtracts from the tentative budget to create the preliminary budget. Following the public hearing (scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16 at Town Hall) additional adjustments can be made prior to the final budget being adopted the beginning of November.

Technically, the vote taken on Friday can be changed if the board were to take such action.

With the vote on record, the funds will be added to the preliminary special district budget.