Where will the money come from?

It was the key question of the nearly 90-minute Upper Milford Board of Supervisors’ regular meeting April 4 which focused primarily on how best to help the townships volunteer fire stations.

Only the real estate tax can be adjusted as a source of revenue for the township.

For 2024, it converts to $104.39 per parcel of land, amounting to a revenue of $387,149.78.

A combined expenditure of $308,000, inclusive of the foreign fire relief money, is split equally between both fire volunteer companies; Upper Milford Western District Fire Company, Zionsville and Citizens Fire Company No. 2, Vera Cruz.

Although the idea of a fire tax has been raised, Upper Milford Township Supervisor Daniel Mohr has made it clear he is not in favor of that option.

Another option, raised by John Zgura, chairman of the board of supervisors, is to examine merging both fire stations into one.

At one point, a frustrated Zgura pointed out, “We are really stuck right here because we’ve got to make a decision in the next couple of weeks because our budget is going to come due. And we are still absolutely nowhere, anywhere closer than we were six months ago.”

When a few residents asked about specifics and transparency from both fire companies, and whether they were subject to audits, a discussion on accountability began.

Western District Fire Company Chief Michael Kline took out his phone and started going over numbers, making it clear he would add the township to the recipient list of his monthly report.

Township Solicitor Marc Fisher made it clear to everyone it is the responsibility of both fire companies to provide numbers to the township and the township needs to be on top of this.

Zgura said at the end of the evening he has three clear objectives.

“My first thing is the safety of my residents. The second is to make sure the fire stations are funded so that they can do what they have to do. And the third is I want to make sure we do this the right way.”

Concerns over tractor trailers driving on local roads, including Mill and Vera Cruz roads, were raised, specifically regarding the width of the roads in relation to the trucks.