Old Lyme - Voters approved using $63,500 in restored budget funds Thursday to pay for capital projects for the fire department, town officials said.
The decision will allow the town to set aside $45,500 for an exhaust system at the Lyme Street firehouse and $18,000 to help pay for a generator at the Cross Lane firehouse.
The fire department had requested the funds, but the Board of Finance did not initially include them in the original $28.5 million budget that was presented and approved May 15 at the annual town meeting. The finance board had only set aside $12,000 for the generator and no monies for the exhaust system.
In a compromise brokered by town leaders late in the budget process, the funding was restored. It cannot be spent until a consultant studies the fire services and compares it to other surrounding towns.
The compromise allowed the fire department to have the funding set aside for next year, but gave the town the option to study the matter before releasing the funds.
The restoration of the money will not affect the 6.79 percent tax increase for next year. The tax rate will increase from 16.65 mills to 17.78 mills.