The Newcastle Selectmen have asked the town fire company to provide detailed financial statements along with the department’s 2010 budget requests.
The request triggered some resistance from the private volunteer fire department.
In a letter to Fire Chief Clayton Huntley, the town asks the fire company to provide its most recent audited financial statement, a copy of the current budget and the list of their current funding sources.
The town has sent similar requests to not for profit agencies which solicit public funds.
The letter says the town would very much appreciate the fire company trustees’ cooperation in adhering to the town’s standard budget documentation.
Other outside agencies seeking funding from the town have been asked to provide similar information.
Huntley said he had already provided the town with the budget. As for funding, that is well known, he said. “We get our funding from donations, grants and the town,” he said.
When asked if the fire department would provide the recent audited financial statement to the town, Huntley answered carefully.
“We are audited every year. When I receive it (the statement) I will give it to the fire company trustees. They will make that decision,” he said.
While Huntley said he had provided the town with the current budget, Ron Grenier, the town administrator, disagreed.
“He has provided the town with next year’s funding request. That is not the same as the budget. There is a difference,” he said.
In addition to the budget and audited statements, the town told the fire company they should be prepared to answer other financial questions about their endowment, contingency, fund raising proceeds, investment portfolio and the ability of the company to use some of these funds for current operating purposes. The town asked to be notified of any grant applications.
The town will consider the fire company’s budget request on March 22 at 7 p.m. in the community room located in the Newcastle Fire Station.
This year, the fire company has requested $106,267 from the town for next year. The request is the same amount as in 2009.