Deep River voters approved new $1.2 million in capital expenses at a special town meeting held at Town Hall on April 11, including them in the 2021-’22 expenditure budget.

The approved expenses, passed unanimously by the voice vote of the approximately 50 voters present, will call for the allocation of $1.2 million for the purchase of new town assets for the Fire, Emergency Management, and Public Works departments as well as the Water Pollution Control Authority and Town Hall.

These include the appropriation of $400,000 for a new tanker trunk and $100,000 for a breathing air filling station for the Fire Department, $200,000 for a new plow truck for Public Works, and $500,000 for radios and radio improvements for the mentioned departments and services.

The discussion of these newly proposed assets took place at a budget workshop with both the BOF and Board of Selectmen at Town Hall on March 31, and were approved by both boards. The town will finance the new expenses partially through funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which will contribute $300,000 to the $1.2 million the town will spend and not expect to exceed.

In addition, $200,000 will be made as a transfer from Capital Funds, $125,000 will be contributed by the Fire Department , and the town will seek to borrow $500,000. Unassigned surplus funds will cover the remaining $75,000.

The approved expense of the tanker trunk for the Fire Department will replace a 14 year-old model that was purchased from the Town of Durham, and part of the $400,000 cost for the new truck will be offset by a $125,000 contribution from the Department itself. The new bottle filling station for breathing apparatuses used by the department would replace models purchased in 1992, and will cost $100,000. The new plow truck is another replacement for the town, in this case replacing a model that was purchased 23 years ago.

The new radio system and improvements for radios in use by Town Hall and its departments will provide the town with more efficient communications, rather than relying on the current model of communication via cell phones.