Aberdeen Fire Department May Dip Into Reserves to Avoid Utility Tax Increase

Aberdeen, WA - The Fire Department is dipping into reserves to keep from adding to Utility taxes in 2012, Aberdeen Fire Chief Dave Carlberg explained to the council at a budget workshop this week "We did have a reserve balance that we felt the best thing to do in this economy was to help buy that down again, the other option would be we'd have to increase the utility by $1.57 per month."
The Chief turned in a 2012 budget proposal that avoided the utility tax, compensated for reductions in state funding, as well as included a gradual increase in training dollars to restore funds lost in previous years for state mandated training.