During the regular monthly meeting of the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board Monday evening, Turkey Creek Township/Syracuse Fire Chief Mickey Scott suggested a way to provide a break to taxpayers within the year.

“Since the equipment replacement fund levy was not reduced by the … trustee for 2014 … we would suggest that we not transfer the 5 percent (allowed by state law) from the 2013 operations budget and allow the amount levied in 2014 to be reduced by the amount remaining in the 2013 operations budget, $153,952.47,” said Scott.

“Basically, this will provide a tax break to our taxpayers that is more than the amount that would have been realized if the tax rate of the equipment replacement fund had been reduced,” he explained. Board members voted to go through with the tax break.

In his monthly report, Scott also reported on the following:

• In December 2013, the department responded to 20 fire calls and 107 EMS calls. There was an estimated $103,500 in property loss.
• In 2013, the department responded to 1,190 fire and EMS calls. The average annual total of responses over the last five years is 1,201.
• The mandatory department contribution to Civil PERF has increased from 10 to 11.2 percent per employee as of Jan. 1. Since this was not known at budget time, funds will have to be transferred from other areas.
• The $250,000 bid from Life Star Rescue Inc. for the remount of Truck 1 was approved by all three boards last month. The truck will be in service until a new chassis has been received by the vendor, most likely in February.

The Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of the month at Syracuse Fire Station 2.