The Robbins Town Board voted unanimously Thursday night to create a capital projects fund with fire district tax revenues.

The alternative was to put the money in general revenues and earmark it for the fire department. While simpler, this would have allowed the town to spend the money on other projects, rather than being designated specifically for the fire department to pay for needed upgrades and equipment, the board was told.

“If we don’t do this, it will be a tax burden for the future,” Fire Chief Jarius Garner said. “When you have to buy a half-million-dollar firetruck six years from now and you have nothing at all put down, it’ll be a major burden to the taxpayers.”

This action, however, is only temporary because a future board could give the capital reserve fund to other departments. Commissioner Kevin Stewart said he hopes to make the fund permanent the next time the town-county contract is renewed.

Before voting on the matter, the board determined that there was no conflict of interest for Mayor Pro Tem A. H. Davis, Jr., a retired fireman who still volunteers with the department, and allowed him to vote.

In other business, the board accepted a transfer from Moore County of 214.85 acres of the Bear Creek watershed.

It also reappointed Susan Eubanks to the town Planning Board, agreed to remain in the Small Town Main Street Program and resolved to develop a Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Contact Andrew Soboeiro at andrewsoboeiro@the-pilot.com.