Millstone, Plumsted voters OK fire district budgets

Candidates for fire commissions also elected.

By: Cynthia Koons and Scott Morgan
   Voters approved the 2003 fire budgets in both Millstone and Plumsted on Saturday. Voters also elected candidates to open seats on those districts’ fire commissions. The following is a summary of voting results:
Millstone
   Voters approved the 2003 fire budget by a margin of 46-7. The budget of $839,370 is an approximately $3,000 increase over last year’s budget. According to Fire Commissioner Frank Leonard, the district will raise approximately $733,370 of its 2003 budget from local taxes. That is an increase of nearly $12,000 from last year, which was $721,670.
   The numbers translate into an estimated tax rate of approximately 6.2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, compared to last year’s rate of 6.1 cents. That means the owner of a home assessed at the township average of $265,000 can expect to pay $164.30 in fire taxes. This is an increase of approximately $3 over last year’s figures.
   The elections featured two unopposed incumbent candidates, Fire Commission Chairman George Gilbert and Commission Secretary Jean Semanchick, the current secretary. Mr. Gilbert garnered 48 votes and Ms. Semanchick received 47. Both were re-elected to three-year term.
Plumsted
   Voters approved the fire district’s 2003 budget, which maintains the district’s tax rate of 9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The budget of $377,954 passed by a margin of 90-46. According to Aaron Heller, a member of the Fire Commission, the district will raise $357,400 of that budget through local taxes. This is an increase of approximately $13,000 over last year’s tax revenue figures of $343,313.
   Still, this translates into a steady tax rate of 9 cents per $100 of valuation. The owner of a home at the average assessed value of $125,000 can expect to pay $112.50 in fire taxes this year. Mr. Heller said a tax rate hike was staved off, in large part, due to new revenues generated by recent commercial developments in the township.
   Mr. Heller said the money will be used to buy equipment for the company, such as air pods, coats, pants and boots. He also said the company will continue to pay off the ladder it purchased in 2001.
   This is the third straight year that tax rate has remained stable.
   Voters also re-elected Mr. Heller to a second three-year term, giving him 78 votes. Patricia Tilghman was named to her first full term and was the largest vote-getter in the three-candidate race, with 111. Ms. Tilghman has been a member of the Fire Commission after assuming an unexpired seat last year.
   First-time challenger Mike Benham failed to win a seat on the commission. He received 68 votes.