CCFD Budget Approved, Tax Bills will be Sent Out

Residents of the Central Coventry Fire District approved a budget of about $5.8 million Thursday night in a sign that the district, beleaguered by money problems for years, is possibly on a path to solvency.

The approved tax rate will be $2.71 for each $1,000 of assessed value, which is five cents lower than the previous budget.

Coventry Fire District Board Chairman Fred Gralinski told the Providence Journal that the budget approval is an important step in straightening out the district, which was in bankruptcy but that abruptly ended earlier this year when the state backed out citing difficulties in implementing a detailed plan to get it out of the fiscal morass.

“We’re taking the path of making this work,” Gralinksi said

Meanwhile the district’s frozen bank accounts are thawing after Centreville Bank agreed to release about $90,000 per week so firefighters can get paid.

The bank froze the district’s accounts last month after the bankruptcy ended; the district had unpaid debt of about $875,000.

The district told the bank that the district would be in crisis and would possibly be forced to liquidate if the money was not released.

The approved budget means that the district can send tax bills, which means money can start coming in and the district can pay its bills.

Though the district is far from declaring itself financially stable, the approved budget and slow progress is a hopeful sign for residents of the district concerned about response times and whether they are protected by full-time firefighters.

From our earlier reporting on this topic:

Receiver Files Motion to Take Central Coventry Fire District Out of Bankruptcy

Firefighters Rally as CCFD Faces Uncertain Future

CCFD Chairman Said Insurance Rating Drop was Due to Training ...

Coventry Fire District Out of Cash, Chairman Says

Central Coventry Fire Chief Resigns Amid “Toxic Political ...

Bankruptcy Over, Fire Board Back in Control of CCFD

Coventry Fire District Faces Big Tax Hike or Liquidation

Central Coventry Fire District Files for Bankruptcy Protection

Coventry Voters Reject Tax, Choose to Dissolve Fire District

Report: Central Coventry Fire District Service is at Lowest Rating