Truro Residents to Vote on Tax Override to Hire Six Full-Time Firefighters

CCB MEDIA PHOTO
Voters at the Truro Town Meeting.

TRURO – Truro residents will vote on a Proposition 2 ½ override article at next month’s Town Meeting that would fund the hiring of six full-time firefighters.

If approved by voters, per-diem firefighters would be turned into regular full-time employees with benefits.

“It is a schedule that brings on six full time firefighters on a rotating basis and covers the station 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, like we’re currently doing now with our people,” said Fire Chief Tim Collins.

The article would also enable the town to raise property taxes beyond the 2 ½ percent annual limit imposed by state law.

The plan would raise the town’s annual budget by more than $240,000 but would encourage trained Truro fire personnel to stay in town instead of leaving for full-time positions elsewhere.

“This would retain the rest of the fire department the way that it is but would ensure that we’re treating the people that we depend on to provide fire and rescue services the way that we treat the rest of our employees,” said Town Administrator Rae Ann Palmer.

By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter