Bethlehem Twp. fire companies request 2 new trucks, board gives go-ahead

BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. — Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire and Nancy Run Fire companies are eyeing two new trucks at a cost of $1.2 million each.

And they’re trying to get a move on with the purchases, considering lengthy industry wait-times.

The township Board of Commissioners on Monday gave its consensus for the fire force to move forward with the pre-ordering process, pending further review by the municipal finance director.

BTVFC President David Stapinski said his crew was just trying to get the ball rolling on a very extensive order-to-delivery process. If everything goes to plan, he estimated a 2027 delivery date.

Stapinski said the builder likely would want money down to hold the overall price, since appropriate materials are hard to come by.

“On the Bethlehem Township side, we’re just looking for the commitment that if we do spec out a truck, would get a final price for a build date, that if there is a discount or something, or that we can sign and put some money down on it to get a better deal — we could be prepared for that,” Stapinski said.

Quite the wait

Township Manager Doug Bruce said the volunteer fire companies typically request to replace fire trucks every 15 to 25 years.

“Nancy Run is asking the board for a decision now on early purchase of the 2026 truck so the company can piggyback off its current purchase with the same vendor,” Bruce said.

“And at last week’s Fire Relations Committee meeting, Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Company asked for an expedited purchase of its 2026 truck.”

BTVFC could be ready to buy its newest vehicle by the third quarter of this year, Bruce said.

At the beginning of last year, the township replacement schedule called for a new truck for the Nancy Run company in 2024, and one for both companies come 2028.

With a previous signature from the township Board of Commissioners, Nancy Run’s 2024 truck purchase was made in the fall of 2023 and came with a 1,000-day delivery schedule and a $1.1 million cost.

The township paid half of the purchase cost upfront, qualifying for a $40,000 discount paid out from the fire tax fund.

How to pay for the vehicles

With a 0.15 of a mill fire tax, a fund balance of $221,000 and annual revenues of $159,000 expected this year, Bruce said it doesn’t put the fire force in a good spot to cover nearly $3 million in trucks.

That number also includes more than a half-million dollars due when the previously ordered truck is delivered to Nancy Run.

“If the board chooses to move forward with the accelerated purchase of the two new trucks, Finance Director Andy Freda and I would recommend paying the cost from cash reserves in the general fund as opposed to borrowing the money,” Bruce said, prior to the consensus.

He said that at the end of 2023, the township’s general fund totaled nearly $7.5 million, including $1.1 million in annual operating surplus.

Commissioner Michael Hudak said he had no problem with approving the truck purchases.

While he said it’s too late to change anything, because the budget had been approved for the new year, officials should later consider raising the fire tax by a “reasonable amount” to help cover these kinds of costs in the future.

“I am not in favor of raising taxes, but we’re robbing Peter to pay Paul,” Hudak said. “Let’s just get this money where it belongs.”

Hudak said he ultimately wanted to give the township finance director time to take a further look at the payment options involved.

Commissioner John Gallagher said he wanted to consider paying a smaller part of the overall cost up front to accrue interest on cash in hand and make room for a heftier payment upon delivery.