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ImageA public hearing to consider the proposed Lansing Fire District budget took exactly two minutes and thirteen seconds Tuesday evening, largely because nobody showed up.  But the news was good for Lansing taxpayers, who will pay a penny less than anticipated, and who will not be asked to pony up any additional taxes to pay for a capital improvement project that will expand Central Station.

"We have a budget of $1,387, 153 of which we're going to raise by property taxes, $1,327,153, which is approximately 98 cents per $1000," said Fire District Treasurer George Gesslein.  "As far as our relation to our statutory spending limitations we could raise an additional $520,000 if we needed it.  But we don't need to do it."

Town of Lansing Deputy Supervisor Connie Wilcox, who is also the Town's liaison to the fire district, congratulated fire commissioners on the budget.  Wilcox was the only person besides fire commissioners and Gesslein to attend the hearing.

"You have done a really good job as far as your capital improvement project going through and having the money to pay for quite a bit of it," she said.  "The tax rate was lowered another penny, and I think it's great."

Gesslein handed out copies of the budget, including a line by line breakdown, and the 20 year fiscal plan.  Last year the tax rate was 99 cents per thousand.  This year it was reduced to 98 cents, where the plan has it staying until 2016 when it is anticipated to go down to 95 cents.   The plan also includes a detailed equipment replacement schedule.  The next major purchase is scheduled for 2012 when a pumper will be replaced at an anticipated cost of $499,016.

Gesslein credited good long term fiscal planning and implementation for keeping taxes down.

"We have a very active chief who makes sure that we don't spend too much, and we've got some commissioners who don't spend too much, either," he said.  "We keep winding up with a little extra money every year, and that goes to our new building, so our new building isn't going to cause us to borrow too much money."

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