BERNARDSTON — Voters overwhelmingly approved a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion Tuesday to spend up to $987,000 to replace the Fire Department’s KME pumper, 160-73.

Residents gave initial approval for the purchase at the April 29 Annual Town Meeting with a unanimous voice vote, but needed to clear both hurdles to move forward. The purchase will replace the 2000 KME pumper that has served its life expectancy.

Fire Chief Peter Shedd previously said the replacement vehicle will allow the department to continue to provide strong service, despite declining personnel.

“Our theory is trying to do more with less when we have [fewer] people and less … mutual aid,” Shedd said last week. “This gives us the opportunity to carry a little bit more water on one truck and potentially eliminate the need for one more truck and mutual aid chain.”