The Cumberland Fire District is at least $300,000 over its budget for overtime pay this year, say commissioners, nixing any hope of getting construction of a new fire station on the ballot this fall.
Cynthia Ouellette, chairwoman of the fire district board, said the “excessive” number of injured-on-duty claims this year have caused the overtime budget to balloon. That, plus late tax payments, are necessitating the issuing of about $400,000 in tax anticipation notes, or TANs, to cover bills for the rest of this fiscal year.
Ouellette said her recommendation at the next budget meeting for the district will be to adjust for the higher costs in next year’s budget.
“There will be cuts,” she said. “Any idea of a new station is gone by the wayside.”
She said she doesn’t know when commissioners might be able to consider bringing the proposal back.