MONROE - City budget constraints have put the building of a second fire station on hold.
"If we move ahead, the community would be a bit upset, and rightfully so, I think," Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch said. "It's just not right when people are struggling.
"And I want it to be sustainable when it happens."
The fire department budget will be at the same amount as last year, "0 percent or less, if health insurance costs go down," Rausch said. Rausch would not release the exact amount of his budget until it is recommended to the City Council later this month.
The council unanimously approved a site for the west side fire station in January and authorized a certified map of the site to be prepared.
The site is located on 2.3 acres in the Honey Creek Business and Industrial Park, facing 17th Street.
For 2009, the second fire station was given $50,000 in the budget for engineering and site work.
But Rausch said he will hold off on those projects until closer to build time, so design work remains applicable and isn't derailed by new fire or building codes. He believes the project could still be ready to go out for bid in 2010.
Earlier this year, Rausch had hoped to have the second fire station project designed and engineered in 2009 and building started in 2010.
"I couldn't in good conscious ask the community to build when the budget is the way it is," he said. "We have money in the capital account, but my concern is if the budget doesn't straighten out."
In keeping his expense budget at no increase this year, Rausch said other departments can use the buffer in their own budgets.
"We all work for the city," Rausch said about inter-departmental relations.
The Finance & Taxation Committee is struggling to balance the city budget within the 2 percent allowable increase set by the state, as fuel and health insurance costs have skyrocketed.
The cost for the second fire station project was estimated at $700,000 in January.
"If we move ahead, the community would be a bit upset, and rightfully so, I think," Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch said. "It's just not right when people are struggling.
"And I want it to be sustainable when it happens."
The fire department budget will be at the same amount as last year, "0 percent or less, if health insurance costs go down," Rausch said. Rausch would not release the exact amount of his budget until it is recommended to the City Council later this month.
The council unanimously approved a site for the west side fire station in January and authorized a certified map of the site to be prepared.
The site is located on 2.3 acres in the Honey Creek Business and Industrial Park, facing 17th Street.
For 2009, the second fire station was given $50,000 in the budget for engineering and site work.
But Rausch said he will hold off on those projects until closer to build time, so design work remains applicable and isn't derailed by new fire or building codes. He believes the project could still be ready to go out for bid in 2010.
Earlier this year, Rausch had hoped to have the second fire station project designed and engineered in 2009 and building started in 2010.
"I couldn't in good conscious ask the community to build when the budget is the way it is," he said. "We have money in the capital account, but my concern is if the budget doesn't straighten out."
In keeping his expense budget at no increase this year, Rausch said other departments can use the buffer in their own budgets.
"We all work for the city," Rausch said about inter-departmental relations.
The Finance & Taxation Committee is struggling to balance the city budget within the 2 percent allowable increase set by the state, as fuel and health insurance costs have skyrocketed.
The cost for the second fire station project was estimated at $700,000 in January.