According to trustee Chairman Phil Schmidt, 2 mills would bring in about $250,000 a year and would go toward the eventual purchase of three new fire engine pumper trucks and a new ladder engine, increased maintenance and utility costs and additional equipment for the department.

Schmidt explained that an audit conducted by the Insurance Service Office last summer showed that the department needed major improvements or its insurance rating would rise and fire insurance rates would increase for homeowners.

Some of the improvements the ISO said the township needed, besides new and additional equipment, include a second fire department in the Masury area which the levy could eventually support, but Schmidt said they were still negotiating that with the ISO.

Trustees are planning to buy new equipment if the levy passes to help keep the insurance rating status quo. A new pumper engine costs about $225,000 and a new ladder truck costs about $440,000, Schmidt said.

The department has two fire engines and one ladder truck, but the ladder truck is almost 30 years old, and the pumper engines are close to 20 years old, Schmidt said.

The ISO also said the township needed a fourth pumper engine.