Turkey Creek Fire Territory Board members Corky Wong, left, and Cindy Kaiser share a laugh before the start of the Turkey Creek Fire Territory Board meeting held Monday, July 14. Also shown are board members Nathan Scherer, Matt Dunithan and Dennis Darr. Photo by Lauren Zeugner

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — The Turkey Creek Fire Territory Executive Board approved the 2026 operations and equipment budgets for the fire territory during its regular meeting Monday night, July 14. The proposed 2026 operations budget is $2,819,780, an increase of $78,725, or 2%.

Fire Chief Mickey Scott reviewed the budget with the board pointing out increases in public employee retirement funds, health insurance and property insurance had the most impact.

P.E.R.F. increased by $30,550 from $251,500 in 2025 to $282,050 in 2026. The fire territory estimated a 10% increase in health insurance for next year. For 2025, $425,385 was budgeted. For 2026, $452,729 was proposed, an increase of $28,344.

Insurance for buildings and workers compensation saw a budget increase of $9,335 from $82,585 for 2025 to $91,920 for 2026.

The board also approved the projected equipment replacement budget. The projected balance at the end of 2025 is $2,314,147.88 with the projected sales of both the old ambulance and an aerial, a ladder truck, to bring in another $225,000 for a total of $2,539,147.88.

The new aerial, which is expected to come into service in early 2026, will cost $2,189,700, leaving a balance of $349,447.88. Machinery and equipment for the aerial is expected to cost $12,000 with a projected balance of $337,447.88.

There was some discussion about whether or not to approve spending $150,000 for an exhaust system for the fire stations.

Both budgets have to be approved by the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board and Syracuse Town Council before they can be submitted.

The board approved spending $1,830 for a new amplifier and speakers for station II.

Scott provided an update on the training facility at station II. NIPSCO has provided electrical service to the new training facility. The fire territory is working with Ritter Electric to complete the electrical service hookup. The training tower is expected to arrive in late July.

The training tower should be constructed by the end of August. The department is working on obtaining a storage container to store training props and supplies at the training facility.

After some discussion, it was decided Capt. Hunter Quinn and Matt Dunithan, president of the fire territory board, will come up with a plan to sell the old ambulance as soon as possible and the old aerial when the new one arrives.