Wareham Fire District officials are proposing a $9.54 million budget to fund new department vehicles and various other items to district voters at the district's Annual Meeting on April 13.

District taxpayers will have the opportunity to vote on two separate budget items at the meeting. The proposed budget for the water department is $4,232,671, a 2.48 percent increase from last year. The Wareham Fire Department, Prudential Committee, Clerk/Treasurer and Mechanics Division fall under the other budget item at $5,310,999, a 4.12 percent increase from last year.

Prudential Committee Chairman George Barrett said a large part of the budget increase comes from the cost of health insurance. He also said the departments are planning for the future with their budgets.

"The water department has a lot of big projects going toward water treatment and a new well," he said.

District officials will also ask for $60,000 to power and outfit a rescue boat that the Fire Department received through a federal surplus program. Barrett said that the district received a boat and trailer a few years ago but it had no electronics or motor. The boat and trailer are valued in excess of $100,000, according to the meeting agenda.

"This boat is more of an all-weather craft than what we currently possess. It's bigger with more protection for the crew," Barrett said.

He said after the 2012 death of a Marion towboat captain in Buzzards Bay, surrounding towns have worked together to try to respond better to similar incidents.

Fire District officials will also ask voters to appropriate $40,000 to replace the general transportation vehicle for the water department. The new vehicle will be funded by water revenue surplus funds and have no effect on the water rate, according to officials. The money will go toward replacing the 1997 Chevy Blazer currently in service that is "no longer road-worthy," according to the annual meeting agenda.

All told, there are 16 items on the meeting agenda. The Annual Meeting for the Wareham Fire District will be on Monday, April 13 at 7 p.m. in the Wareham High School auditorium.

Wareham Fire District elections will be held on Saturday, April 18. Two seats on the Prudential Committee and one seat on the Board of Water Commissioners are on the ballot. Polls will open at the Wareham Fire District offices at 2550 Cranberry Highway at 10 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. Candidates for all three seats are running unopposed.

Current Prudential Committee members Kenneth Baptiste and Ron Enos are running for re-election, while Prudential Committee member Richard England will be running for the Water Commissioner seat. Current Water Commissioner Ted Hatch announced last month he would not be seeking re-election.