AMESBURY —With the fire department’s three engines reaching “critical failure points” and the city borrowing an engine from neighboring Salisbury, the department’s ability to maintain current public safety levels may hinge on a pending request to buy two new fire pumpers for $1.6 million.
The request, submitted by Mayor Kassandra Gove’s office to the City Council, comes at an inopportune time budget-wise considering voters last fall turned down a $6 million override this fall, leading to a tight fiscal 2027 budget.
“It’s like when your refrigerator dies on you or your hot water tank dies on you, it doesn’t happen at a convenient time,” At-Large City Councilor Scott Mandeville said. “We’re always trying to stay ahead of these things, and we’re trying to be budget conscious with our spending and our expenses. Obviously, the failed override and the budget is a big issue and is something that we’re acutely aware of.”
The bill, which was introduced to councilors during its meeting Tuesday night, was quickly referred to the Council’s Committee of the Whole for further discussion. The City Council’s next meeting is July 28.
City Communication Director William Donohue explained that the city needs two new pumpers because all three existing engines have reached “critical failure points.”
“Engine 3 was removed from service due to catastrophic pump failure, Engine 2 has suffered a catastrophic engine failure with repair costs estimated at $80,000–$100,000, and Engine 1 is aging, requiring more than $30,000 in repairs last year alone just to remain in frontline service,” Donohue said. “The department is currently relying on a borrowed engine from Salisbury—which may be recalled at any time—leaving the city without dependable apparatus to ensure city-wide fire protection, support simultaneous emergencies, and meet mutual aid obligations.”
He noted that purchasing two new engines would restore the city’s intended deployment model of two frontline engines and one reserve engine, support the reopening of the Elm Street fire station, protect prior capital investments, and “position Amesbury with reliable apparatus for the next 20 years.”
He said that the administration is conscious of the city’s financial situation but stressed that this is a necessary purchase.
“With the override not passing and the city operating under a very tight budget increase of just 0.5%, we’re continuing to make careful, fiscally responsible decisions every day,” Donohue said. “Financing the new fire engines allows Amesbury Fire to maintain the level of public safety our residents expect—especially as new housing developments come online—while spreading the associated costs over time in a manageable, sustainable way.”
In November, 58 percent of residents who came out to vote voted against the proposed $6 million override.
In June, the council approved a $93.2 million budget which includes $84.7 million from the general fund, the $4.9 million Water Enterprise Fund budget, the $3.3 million Sewer Enterprise Fund budget and the $275,000 Cable Public Access budget.
The council approved $82.1 million of the general fund to be raised by taxation and other revenue sources, with the remaining $2,568,903 coming from sources including free cash, ambulance receipts, youth revolving receipts, cemetery trust interest and enterprise funds indirect costs.
The Amesbury Fire Department did not respond to request for comment in time for this report.