Thompson, CT — Through the formation of the Thompson Fire Protection Association, the town’s five fire departments are working toward two key goals: separating fire funding from the general town budget and establishing a more stable, effective funding structure that supports both taxpayer safety and the operational readiness of firefighters and EMS responders.
At the informational meeting held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the Thompson Public Library — attended by roughly 100 residents and firefighters — Chief Matt Grauer of the Thompson Fire Engine Company delivered a presentation outlining the critical funding issues facing the departments. He explained how the creation of the Thompson Fire Protection Association (TFPA) would relieve long-standing financial pressures with minimal impact on the taxpayer.
*The ordinance will go to a vote at the December 4, 2025, town meeting. If passed, the Association would become fully functional before May 2026, officially separating fire department funding from the general government budget. Contracted ambulance, paramedic, and dispatch services, along with the Fire Marshal and Burning Official positions, would remain under the town. The preliminary mill rate is 1.29, applied only to real estate. With the average assessed home value around $250,000, the owner of such a property would pay $323 per year, an approximate increase of $184, with all funding going directly to the TFPA.
Incoming First Selectman Nick Donohue emphasized long-term planning, stating:
“Thinking about not what’s going to get us through the next month, or 6 months, or year — let’s think, Thompson, what are we going to do for the next five, 10, 20? Let’s start to make sure we put that concrete groundwork in for our community to move forward.”
11/12/25 Thompson Fire Protection Association District Q&A Slides
Current Funding Challenges
Since 1990, Thompson’s five departments have been funded as a single line item in the town’s general government budget. In FY 2026, each department received approximately $82,000 once the budget passed on the 4th referendum. Out of this, each department is responsible for building and vehicle maintenance, utilities, and mandatory replacement of equipment — such as turnout gear every 10 years and air packs every 15 years. These basic operational requirements cost roughly $60,000 per department, leaving little room for equipment upgrades, apparatus replacement, or training.
To bridge the funding gap, departments often rely on dinners, boot drives, and fundraisers staffed by volunteers — bringing in an additional $1,000–$5,000 per year at most.
What the TFPA Changes
If the TFPA is approved, all line items related to firefighting operations would be removed from the town’s general budget — freeing $638,830 for other municipal needs or potential reductions. Ambulance, paramedic, dispatch, and fire marshal services would remain under town control.
This separation is especially significant given that last year’s general budget failed multiple times, requiring four separate referendums to pass, largely due to disagreements surrounding the general government and school budgets. By moving fire department funding outside of the town budget process, the TFPA model shields emergency services from those recurring political and financial battles, ensuring operational stability regardless of annual budget disputes.
The TFPA board would set its own mill rate each May, at a public meeting preceded by budget sessions allowing public input. The proposed first-year mill rate of 1.29 would generate $1,293,150, an increase of $654,320 over the departments’ combined current allocation. Of that total, $450,000 would be placed into an apparatus fund to begin saving for new fire trucks — whose costs have soared to roughly $1 million for an engine and $2 million for a ladder truck due to a monopoly acquisition of apparatus manufacturing companies by a venture capital fund (currently being contested in Congress). Many frontline vehicles in Thompson exceed the NFPA’s 25-year age recommendation.
A replacement plan has been drafted to phase in new apparatus on a staggered schedule across all five departments.
Why Five Departments?
Each department responds to roughly 300 calls per year, covering all hazards including fire, motor vehicle accidents, hazardous materials incidents, and EMS calls. A 2017 independent study by VFIS determined that maintaining five fire departments remains the most effective model due to Thompson’s nearly 50-square-mile size and the response times needed to protect life safety. The human brain dies in about 6 minutes after the heart stops beating. Fires double in size every 1-2 minutes.
All five chiefs stressed at the meeting that there is no internal push to consolidate departments. The five-department system, they said, remains the most effective way to provide timely emergency service.
2019 Presentation of the VFIS study
Governance and Oversight
The TFPA board will consist of five permanent members and two alternates, elected during the May meeting. All members must reside within the district for the duration of their staggered three-year terms. No board member may be a firefighter or EMS provider with any department engaged by the district.
The district will elect a President, Vice President, Clerk, and Treasurer from among the five board members. Only the Treasurer will receive a stipend due to the extensive workload of the position.
Final Draft of the Thompson Fire Protection Association Bylaws
Tax Collection and Service Guarantees
While final details continue to be refined, TFPA tax bills will be processed by the Town’s Tax Collector. In cases of non-payment, the town will have the authority to place a lien on the property.
Chief Grauer emphasized that non-payment would never affect emergency response, stating that all properties — regardless of tax status — will continue to receive full fire protection whenever a call is made.
The creation of the Thompson Fire Protection Association represents a significant structural change for the town’s emergency services. Voters will ultimately decide on December 4 whether this new model becomes reality, and residents are encouraged to review the provided documents and videos to fully understand the proposal.
*Paragraph updated to reflect the total $323 payment with a $184 increase.