Fire Protection Costs See Increase For 2026

With rising costs and the payment for a new truck to consider, the Oriskany Falls Village Board will raise the amount three towns pay for fire protection.

Board members discussed at length during their meeting last week the fire contracts with the towns of Augusta, Sangerfield and Marshall.

All three receive some coverage, with Augusta at the highest amount, from the Oriskany Falls Fire Department.

The OFFD fire commissioners had recommended an increase of 5 percent.

In discussing the upcoming expenses, Village Board members said that amount would unlikely be enough.

The department is getting a new truck by purchasing a new chassis for one of its trucks.

Payment for that cost, which is cheaper than buying an entirely new truck, will begin in 2026.

For this year, the fire contracts increased 3 percent to cover the cost of expenses.

When the department bought a new truck several years ago, the contract went up 15 percent to cover the loan payment.

In other matters, the Board approved Codes Officer Gary Schreppel’s inspection of a house on Cottage Street, he said was a two-family.

The Board agreed to charge the owner for two utility usages.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Geoff Stevens and the Board discussed the condition of the pumps. ...