BP fire department continues fundraising efforts
Although Bethel Park voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum providing for a dedicated .34 mill real estate tax to finance the Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Department fundraising will continue, said Robert Brown, deputy fire chief.
Brown explained that the tax does not take effect until 2014 and in the meantime the fire company has bills to pay.
The fire company will also continue to fundraise for items that will not be funded by the tax, Brown said.
The municipality will administer the tax, which will finance the building of a new state-of-the-art fire station as well as provide $300,000 for the annual operation of the fire company.
As volunteer fire fighters prepare for the demolition of the original fire station on Brightwood Road, council members approved a resolution allowing for the municipality and/or the fire company to be reimbursed from a forthcoming bond issue, which will finance construction of the new building.
The move will allow the municipality and the fire company to move forward with the building, which will ultimately be paid for with the proceeds from the new tax.