VOORHEESVILLE — A small percentage of Voorheesville residents turned out on Wednesday to vote on the question of whether to raise the Length of Service Award Program funds credited each year to qualifying volunteer firefighters. An overwhelming majority of those voters agreed to raise that amount.

According to Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Karen Finnessey, 92 people came to the firehouse to vote. Eighty-three of those voted for the raise, and 9 voted against. There are 64 firefighters on the roster, although not all of them would receive LOSAP payments.

There was another question on the ballot as well, proposing to amend the point system to meet state law. On this question, 80 people voted yes, agreeing to amend the system, and 9 voted against. 

The total number of village residents, Finnessey said, currently stands at 1,872, meaning that the percentage of residents voting on the issue was 4.9. 

The amount credited to firefighters each year, as of 2015, is $480. Voters agreed to raise this amount by $110 each year for two years: to $590 per qualifying firefighter for the calendar year 2016, and to $700 for the calendar year 2017. The amount currently credited to qualifying ambulance workers in Voorheesville is also $700. 

Residents also voted “yes” on the question of whether to make an amendment to the Service Award Point System that would bring small but, according to Fire Chief William Reddy, necessary changes to the system’s wording.  

“It’s a good thing. It retains firefighters,” Reddy said earlier of the increased payments.

Because of the state tax cap, villagers will not see their taxes rise over the next few years as a result of the LOSAP increase, Clerk-Treasurer Linda Pasquali told The Enterprise earlier. She said that budget adjustments would need to cover the additional costs.