Between the proposed budget and warrant articles, Mason anticipates a drop in total expenditures of 5.8% for the coming year.

During a budget hearing Tuesday, the board made several last-minute adjustments, mostly in small amounts, with resulted in an overall decrease of the budget proposal by $450. The total proposed budget is $2.62 million, down about $52,000 from the current budget of $2.67 million.

“We worked hard on this one,” said Select Board Chair Kate Batcheller.

Changes in the budget include an overall 2.7% cost-of-living adjustment for employees, as well as increases to insurance. The cost for ambulance service, which is contracted from Brookline Ambulance, increased from $106,234 to $115,404. Batcheller said the increase is due to Mason call volume and the purchase of some new equipment.

There are some major changes to the Fire Department budget, as the town shifts from a full-time chief to a part-time one, and is seeking ways to have some staff available for day shifts at the department. Former Chief Anthony Burns left the department in the fall, and current Chief Eric Rantamaki has agreed to fill the position part-time, which reduces the salary line for the chief from $54,789 to $30,000. With the chief being the only full-time position, the town was able to eliminate the $19,400 for retirement benefits.

The town added a new line this year for per diem payments, budgeting $30,000 with the funds saved by reducing the chief to part-time. Batcheller said the town will be “piloting” a per diem system to pay members to be at the department during daylight hours, when the amount of people able to respond is critically low.

“We’re trying to figure out how to have someone there on day shift,” Batcheller explained.

The other big change in the Fire Department budget is a $12,000 reduction in the line for equipment maintenance. 

The town also has several warrant articles associated with the Fire Department, including the purchase of a new pumper truck. The truck would be purchased through a seven-year lease-to-purchase agreement, for a total of $864,000, with payments evenly throughout the seven years and the first payment due in 2026. If approved in March, the payment would be included in the budget moving forward, and there is an escape clause if the town decides not to complete the lease. It would replace the town's Engine 4.

Batcheller said the town has reached the point where equipment no longer meets standards necessary to support firefighters entering burning buildings.

“We are now at a crossroads,” Batcheller said.

The town is also asking for $25,000 each to be added into the capital reserves for engine replacement and for fire department equipment. The town is also asking to establish a new capital reserve for the maintenance of water holes and cisterns that store water in areas where there is no easy water access for firefighting. Batcheller said repairs of a single water hole can cost upwards of $18,000. The article requests $20,000 to seed the fund.

The town is also asking for $27,643 to purchase receivers to be used by fire, EMS and police, to be placed in the area near the Mason quarry and help to bridge communications gaps. Selectman John Suiter said that during the recent extensive brush fire on Pratt Pond Road, firefighters had to use cellphones to  communicate because radios could not function.

Ashley Saari can be reached a t 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.