SOUTH HADLEY — Fire District No. 1 voters will be asked to approve a $5,184,876 fire department budget and a $2,940,672 water budget at the district’s annual meeting next week.

The warrant for the annual meeting contains 38 articles, including a citizen’s petition to amend the district bylaws. The meeting gets underway Thursday, April 27, at 6 p.m. at the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School, 15 Mulligan Drive.

The $5.2 million fire department budget represents an increase of $154,035, or 3.06%, over the current year’s spending, according to information supplied by Clerk/Treasurer Kari Scytkowski. Proposed funding consists of $3.88 million in taxes, $1.1 million from the ambulance reserve fund, and approximately $200,000 from other sources, including free cash.

The spending plan comprises approximately $2.72 million for wages, $1.76 million in capital expenses, $554,000 for fire and ambulance operating expenses, and $154,000 for administration.

The $117,110 increase in the water budget amounts to 4.15% of the current year’s expenditures. An available surplus of $954,620 is proposed to offset the budget request, leaving $1,986,052 to be raised from water users.

The budget is made up of approximately $626,000 in wages, $1.2 million in maintenance, $719,000 in other expenses, and $395,000 in capital expenses.

Water Superintendent Jeff Cyr said the surplus consists of unspent operating funds from previous years, approximately $230,000 a year in cell tower revenues, and excess receipts. The rolling surplus has created stability for the district’s water users, he said.

“We haven’t raised water rates in six years,” Cyr said.

Water Commissioner William Schenker drew up the petition to amend the bylaws with the aim of more clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of the different boards within the fire district. Schenker told commissioners in February his aim was to end the rift between the Prudential Committee, which governs the fire department, and the water board.

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