With the cost of repairs rising, elected leaders in Lake George are grappling with what to do about the fire department's aging ladder truck. Our Matt Hunter has a closer look at their dilemma.

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. – The last time the Lake George Volunteer Fire Department sent its ladder truck out on a call, it never got there.

"It actually broke down about a week ago in response to an emergency call," Lake George Village Mayor Robert Blais said.

"It quit running and apparently blew the motor,” Lake George Town Supervisor Dennis Dickinson said.

Officials say it would cost at least $20,000 to fix the aging 23-year-old vehicle.

"This has been ongoing for about a year now,” said Blais, who previously served 25 years with the fire department, rising to the rank of assistant chief. “Previously, about one year ago, we spent a little over $90,000 repairing the aerial part of the apparatus."

Since that time, leaders within the department have been lobbying to replace the truck, which is the only one in Lake George outfitted with a ladder.

"It’s time,” Dickson said. “It is supposed to be a rescue vehicle; it needs to be dependable and reliable. It has gotten to the point where it is not."

The challenge is the hefty price tag.

"Buying a new truck is somewhere in the range of between $900,000 and $1.2 million," Blais said.

While the firehouse is owned by the village, the operating and equipment costs are shared with the town. Because the town’s total assessed value is higher, its share of the purchase price is 77 percent. Dickinson says that’s enough to boost a $200,000 home’s annual tax bill by about $20.

"My fear is that we buy the truck and we send them the tax bills, and they will knock the door down," he said.

With only a handful of tall buildings, officials say some residents have questioned whether a ladder truck is more of a luxury than a necessity.

"This truck is not necessarily used it every single alarm,” Blais said. “As a matter fact, a very low percentage, I would say."

Blais added that the village already has mutual aid agreements in place with five neighboring towns within 20 minutes of Lake George, all of which have ladder trucks that could be sent in the event of a fire or other incident. The village board already voted in favor of buying a new truck.

Before the town council makes its decision, Dickinson says he's hopeful to negotiate a lower percentage of the town's share with the mayor.

"It is not to be taken lightly; these issues are not to be taken lightly," Dickinson said.