I am currently a driver for the Cundy’s Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, and I was on the board of the Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department for several years. I support the building of an additional fire station.
The citizens of Harpswell are considering a $6.1 million investment for the future of their fire and rescue service. An additional fire station on Mountain Road is part of the solution to the coverage problem resulting from the decreasing numbers of volunteers.
The reasons why this project should be done have been made clear in reports to the Select Board, public meetings and informational materials. But even if the folks of Harpswell see the merit, I have heard misgivings about the cost.
Building a new station on Mountain Road will cost about what it would cost to improve the facilities at the three current stations. The longer we wait to decide on a course of action, the more construction costs will rise.
The town would not pay for the station all at once — instead, it would borrow the funds to build the station and pay back the $6 million over 20 years at 4.1% interest, making payments of $438,612.20 per year.
These payments would add 17 cents per $1,000 of valuation to the property tax rate. Thus, the increase in the property tax for a $400,000 property would be $68.
There is also the possibility of grants that would reduce the amount of the bond.
Given the current trend of fewer and fewer firefighters, our choice is to pay now in a planned way or wait until there is a crisis and pay more. We saw this happen when the town put off demolishing the Mitchell Field pier. The demolition cost had increased markedly by the time it had to be done.
Aaron J. Fuchs, Great Island
