BFD to receive new fire trucks

Stephens County has received and accepted a grant from the United States Agricultural Department to provide two new F-450 fire trucks to the Breckenridge Fire Department.

The commissioners allocated funds to buy the fire trucks after having to repair fire trucks over several years.

“This is something Commissioner McCullough has been working hard on,” Stephens County Judge Michael Roach said. “We didn’t want the fire department going out to fight fires with used vehicles. We want the best equipment for our first responders.”

Stephens County borrowed $500,000 from the USDA and along with funds in the county’s reserve, fixed the air conditioning within the Courthouse and needed to find other capital projects to invest in.

The USDA matched the County’s truck purchase as the county paid for one fire truck, and the USDA paid for the second truck. The county saved over $50,000 on the two new fire trucks.

The repayment for the funds borrowed will not be repaid until the Stephens County Law Enforcement Center is paid in full, so that taxpayers will not see an increase in taxes.