Coventry Fire District Voters Increase Budget by $400,000

COVENTRY, RI—Taxpayers who live in the Coventry Fire District approved a district budget Tuesday night that was increased by $400,000 in the hopes of increasing the number of active firefighters.

The vote effectively reverses a $400,000 cut voters slashed from the budget last year.

The vote to add $400,000 to the budget passed by a one-vote margin (37 to 36) and was based on a desire to add more firefighters to the district, which now has just nine, down from 17. The total budget was approved 40-35.

The fire union recently agreed to a new contract that reduced staffing levels and drastically reduced health benefits and increased medical cost sharing. The concessions were part of a deal worked out between the union and fire board in an effort to spare the district from dissolution.

The total budget now will be $2.6 million.

Voters also voted to populate the fire board, picking: Ben Perra, Frank Palin, Nick Ahart and John Cook.

The meeting was a drastic contrast to last year’s meeting, which had much larger turnout fueled in part by revaluations that the district budget had been mismanaged and news reports that the now-fired fire chief was golfing and drinking on the job.

Palin, addressing the audience, told taxpayers that the time has come to leave animosity behind and move forward.

The district is “alive and well,” he said, and he offered thanks to firefighters and the union leadership for the concessions that helped save the district.

While the meeting Wednesday was good news for firefighters and residents who hope to see service levels increase, not everyone was happy.

Rep. Patricia Morgan, loathed by firefighters for her admonitions of the union and attempts to steer town fire districts towards privatization and volunteers, said that “the average, non-firefighter family doesn’t want a tax increase.” in a tweet. “It simply isn’t fair.”