Voters to decide area fire budgets Saturday

Districts to ask voters to approve fire tax rate hikes.

By:Eve Collins and Vanessa S. Holt
   Five area fire districts will ask voters to approve increases in the local fire tax rates in Saturday’s elections.
   Only two of the five elections for fire commissioner will be contested.
   Following are the proposed budgets and candidates that residents will vote on in Bordentown, Chesterfield and Florence townships.
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP

DISTRICT 1

   
The total proposed budget for Fire District 1 is $420,566. The budget would raise the local fire tax rate by 1.9 cents to 20.5 cents per $100 of assessed property value.
   An owner of a home at the township average of $132,000 would pay $271 this year in fire taxes if the budget passes.
   Only one seat is open on the five-member Board of Fire Commissioners. Sal Guido is running for the three-year term.
   Voting will take place at the Mission Fire Company on Groveville Road from 2 to 9 p.m.
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP

DISTRICT 2

   
The total proposed budget for Fire District 2 is $1,004,451. The budget would raise the local fire tax rate by 2 cents to 20 cents per $100 of assessed property value.
   An owner of a home at the township average of $132,000 would pay $264 this year in fire taxes.
   One seat is open on the board this year. Commissioner Diane Robinson is up for re-election and is being challenged by Sue Givens.
   Voting will take place at the Derby Firehouse on Route 528 from 2 to 9 p.m.
CHESTERFIELD

DISTRICT 1

   
Two three-year seats on the Board of Fire Commissioners are available this year.
   Incumbents Joseph Dubell and Stanley Lewis are running unopposed for the two seats.
   A tax levy of $161,420 will go before voters on Saturday. The tax rate under the proposed budget would increase by 4.5 cents, from 11.5 to 16 cents per $100 of assessed property value, said accountant John Maley.
   Fire Commissioner Richard Ettenger said the increase last year’s $114,670 tax levy was due to increased insurance costs and a half-year’s salary for two paid employees who will cover daytime hours.
   The owner of a home valued at this year’s assessed average, $207,000, would pay $331 in fire taxes.
   Voting will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Union Fire Co. No. 1, 18 New St., Crosswicks.
CHESTERFIELD

DISTRICT 2

   
A tax levy of $122,029 will go before voters this Saturday. Under the proposed budget, the tax levy would increase from 8.4 cents to 9 cents per $100 of assessed property value.
   The owner of a home valued at the current average in the township, $207,000, would pay $186 under the proposed tax rate.
   District clerk Jack Homa said the increase was due to routine repairs and maintenance and an increase in insurance costs. No new purchases will be made this year, he said.
   Incumbent commissioners Donald Longstreet and Charles Jones are running unopposed for two three-year terms on the Board of Fire Commissioners.
   Voting will be held at from 2 to 9 p.m. at Chesterfield Hose Company on Route 528, 300 Bordentown-Chesterfield Road.
FLORENCE TOWNSHIP

   
Florence Township Fire Chief Edward Kensler said a $952,582 fire budget with an $818,882 tax levy will be before voters this Saturday. The increase in the fire tax rate from 12.5 cents per $100 of assessed property value to 15.75 cents would mean an additional $32 in taxes for a homeowner with property valued at the township average, $100,000.
   The average tax bill would increase from $125 to $158 if the fire budget is approved.
   Chief Kensler said the purpose of the proposed tax rate increase is to enable to district to make improvements that could raise the township’s insurance rating from a 5 to a 3 over the next year.
   An improved rating could be reflected in homeowners’ fire insurance bills, he said, though the benefit would depend in part on the individual insurance provider.
   "Some may see a benefit right away," said Chief Kensler. "Other companies look at the entire region. We might be in a region that includes neighboring towns where the insurance ratings stay the same. With some insurance companies, you might not see a benefit right away, but there still should be some savings."
   A better rating also could help the district secure grants and other alternate funding sources, he said.
   Cost comparisons for renovation and new construction will be examined in 2003, said Chief Kensler. The budget that residents will vote on this Saturday includes funds that the district will apply to renovation or to a down payment on future construction, he said.
   Two three-year positions on the Board of Fire Commissioners will be available this year. Incumbent Jack A. Jones will seek re-election. Paul Varga, whose term expires this year, will not seek re-election. Scott W. Arnold, John M. Dulo, David M. Zulla and Mr. Jones will run for the two open seats, said Chief Kensler.
   The fire budget vote will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. at Florence Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2, 501 E. Delaware Ave., Roebling.