Local fire district budgets set for next Tuesday

The four fire districts within Riverhead Town will all have public hearings on their proposed 2014 budgets next Tuesday night, Oct. 15.

Fire districts are the taxing entity that funds the local fire departments, which are mostly run by volunteers but receive taxes for items such as equipment, facilities and some paid employees.

Below is a breakdown of the budget proposals and public hearing times and location:

Riverhead

The proposed budget called for $4.732 million in spending, up 1.4 percent over the 2013 budget of $4.665 million. The district is offsetting taxes with the use of $250,000 in fund balance and $50,000 in payments in lieu of taxes, bringing the tax levy to $4.432 million, which is up 1.66 percent.

Tax rates, which are determined by the town, were not yet available. The district covers parts of three different towns: Riverhead, Southampton and Brookhaven.

The public hearing on the budget will take place at 7 p.m. at Riverhead fire headquarters on 540 Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead.

Jamesport

The proposed 2014 budget is $830,318, which is up 1.77 percent over the 2013 budget of $815,841. Of that amount, $755,054 will be paid through taxes, which is a 1.65 percent increase.

The public hearing is at 7:30 p.m. at the firehouse on 25 Manor Lane in Jamesport.

Wading River

The proposed 2014 budget calls for $2.125 million in spending, up 2.2 percent from the 2013 budget of $2.078 million. The amount to be paid by taxes totals $2.070 million and is split between Brookhaven Town and Riverhead Town, with the portion in Brookhaven projected at $869,208, which is up 2.5 percent from 2013, and $1.2 million in Riverhead, which is up 2.5 percent as well, according to district figures.

The public hearing is at 7 p.m. at the fire headquarters on 15-3 North Country Road in Wading River.

Manorville

The proposed 2014 budget calls for $1.708 million in spending, up 1.6 percent over the 2013 budget of $1.681 million. The districtwide proposed tax levy is $1.66 million, but that number will be split between Brookhaven and Riverhead towns. District figures show $1.565 million going to Brookhaven, up 2 percent, and $94,632 going to Riverhead, which is a decrease from the 2013 levy of $101,364.

The public hearing will at 7 p.m. at the main firehouse on 14 Silas Carter Road in Manorville.