By Sarah Roebuck
FireRescue1
JACKSON COUNTY, Mich. — The Blackman-Leoni Township Department of Public Safety will be getting a new fire engine funded by Michigan’s marijuana tax money, MLive reports.
The department, which serves Leoni Township and assists with many calls in Jackson County, will be purchasing a Rosenbauer Fire Apparatus built from scratch after the township board approved using the funds from Michigan’s Marijuana Excise Tax to pay for the new $842,576 rig.
The township last acquired a fire engine in 2017, breaking a 30-year gap since the previous purchase. According to the township, the new engine will serve as a backup when the 2017 model is undergoing service or repairs.
“In the past, the township would have to try and pass a millage in order to buy new equipment like this, so it’s real nice to be able to have this paid for without having to ask the public for the funds,” Leoni Township Administrator Mike Jester told MLive. “Also, having paid for the new truck outright, we ended up saving money in the long run that would have gone into fees and interest.”
The Township Board of Trustees stated that the Marijuana Excise Tax Funds should benefit all residents of Leoni Township, rather than being allocated to specific projects like road paving or exclusively aiding residents with sewer services.
The new truck is anticipated to be finished and delivered to the township by May 2025.