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ONONDAGA COUNTY, N.Y. -- Lawmakers in Van Buren have approved a new fire district. The plan eliminates two fire districts and extends the Lysander fire district to protect both towns.

Now it will go to a public vote.

Officials from both towns say they will gain more volunteer firefighters and reduce operational costs. If it's approved, homeowners will see a slight change in tax rates, depending on which town they live in. The minor increase will help the larger department stay up to date.

"Once these trucks get to be a certain age, they need to be replaced. They need to keep pace with those replacements. The way it was they didn't have the money to be able to do that,” Van Buren Town Supervisor Claude Sykes said.

There will be a public hearing before voters weigh in on the idea.

The towns are hoping the new fire district will be up and running by June 1st.