The Victor Fire District is proposing a $4.86 million budget for 2027 that would raise its property-tax levy by about 2.2%, with $1.57 million from reserves helping finance the spending plan.
Residents can comment at a public hearing today, Oct. 20, at 5:30 p.m. at the Victor Fire Department, 34 Maple Ave., according to the official hearing notice.
The proposed levy is $1,642,345, up $35,493 from $1,606,852 for 2026. That is the amount the district would collect through property taxes, rather than the total it plans to spend.
Total appropriations would rise from $2,421,302 budgeted for 2026 to $4,859,110 in 2027, an increase of $2,437,808, or 100.7%. The proposal includes large apparatus and vehicle purchases, along with higher personnel costs and contributions to reserve funds.
Tax levy would remain below the cap
The preliminary budget calculates a 2027 tax-levy limit of $1,654,159. The proposed levy would be $11,814 below that limit.
Its tax-cap calculation includes a 1.0061 tax-base growth factor, a 1.02 allowable levy-growth factor and $5,172 in available carryover. Together, those adjustments produce a permitted levy above a straight 2% increase over the prior year's levy.
Other proposed revenue includes $1,605,765 in charges for fire protection and other services, $40,000 in interest and $1,000 in donations. The $1.57 million transfer from reserves rounds out the financing plan.
The district projects an unassigned general fund balance of $552,378.05 at the end of 2026. Its separate reserve accounts are projected to total $2,352,787 at year-end, including $2,028,989 for apparatus repair and replacement, $200,813 for buildings, $57,855 for equipment and $65,130 for emergency repairs.
Apparatus purchases and reserve contributions drive spending
The apparatus, vehicles and mounted-equipment category would increase from $7,000 to $1,624,000. It includes $1.36 million for apparatus, $250,000 for utility vehicles and $14,000 for hose and ground ladders.
Spending on firefighting tools and loose equipment would rise from $114,000 to $154,000. Within that category, rescue tools would increase from $25,000 to $75,000, while protective gear would fall from $80,000 to $67,000. The proposal also includes $10,000 for loose equipment and $2,000 for emergency medical equipment.
Communications equipment would receive $67,500, down from $69,750. That includes $36,000 for radios, $17,500 for computers and $14,000 for mobile data terminals.
Building capital outlays would rise from $118,000 to $142,000, including $90,000 for building mechanical systems, $50,000 for furniture and fixtures and $2,000 for tools and equipment.
New reserve contributions would increase from $330,000 to $670,000. The proposed allocations are $500,000 for apparatus repair and replacement, $65,000 for buildings, $100,000 for equipment and $5,000 for emergency repairs.
Personnel, utilities and maintenance costs increase
Personnel services and benefits would total $1,275,365, an increase of $222,583. The main personnel-services line would rise from $683,000 to $810,000, while hospital and medication insurance would increase from $212,000 to $260,000.
The proposal also raises state retirement contributions from $46,000 to $63,000 and fire retirement contributions from $40,000 to $52,000. Social Security would rise to $63,000, and a $10,000 personnel contingency would be added. The volunteer firefighter training stipend would remain $2,000.
Utilities would nearly double, increasing from $59,550 to $118,950. Electricity is budgeted at $45,000, up from $27,000, and natural gas at $27,000, up from $10,000. The category also includes telephone, internet, water, sewer, wireless fees and a $12,000 contingency.
Building and grounds maintenance would rise from $80,820 to $170,950. Building maintenance and repair accounts for $80,000 of that proposal, compared with $35,000 in 2026. Other increases include building access, security-system licensing, heating and cooling maintenance, floor cleaning and a building contingency.
Apparatus maintenance would increase from $79,550 to $111,250. The allocation for the district's 2010 Seagrave engine would rise from $10,000 to $25,000, while the apparatus contingency would increase from $10,000 to $15,000.
Operational expenses would total $184,300, up from $174,075. The proposal includes $25,000 for paid-firefighter training, $26,000 for apparatus fuel and a $20,000 operational contingency. Equipment expenses would increase from $33,850 to $41,000, while insurance would decrease from $36,650 to $33,500.
Administrative expenses would increase modestly, from $220,275 to $221,295. A proposed increase in accounting-software costs is partly offset by lower records-software and medical-exam allocations. The annual contribution to the volunteer service award program would remain $45,000.
The district's meeting schedule lists tonight's session as the budget hearing and an anticipated vote on the budget.
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