Rockland voters overwhelmingly approved to fund construction of a new fire headquarters and the purchase of a new fire department ladder truck.
In Saturday’s special election, the new fire station was approved by nearly 200 votes. There were 1,154 votes in favor and 962 opposed.
Voters supported the new ladder truck, 1,240 to 875, or by 365 votes.
Over 2,100 ballots were cast.
The proposition 2 -1/2 debt exclusion for the new $26 million fire station will add about $220 to the average yearly Rockland single-family home tax bill. It will be built at 99 Church Street.
The new $2 million ladder truck will add a single, one-year tax increase of about $300 that will “fall off” before the fire station tax increase begins.
Fire Chief Scott Duffy has said that the new fire station and ladder truck are both critically needed.
He explained that the existing fire headquarters no longer meets operational requirements and needs costly renovations.
The chief also has said the department’s ladder truck is 26 years old and is deteriorating.