Spending plan, ballot question defeated in Millstone at the annual fire district elections.
By: Lauren Burgoon
Voter turnout at the annual fire district elections was characteristically skimpy, but the news was good for two local firehouses the Plumsted and Washington budgets were given the thumbs up Saturday.
Millstone’s fire district wasn’t as lucky. That spending plan and a ballot question to renovate the firehouse were both turned down by voters.
Millstone
The $1.1 million fire budget now faces the Township Committee’s review after voters rejected the district spending plan by more than a 2-to-1 margin. Of the more than 6,600 registered voters in town, only 238 cast votes Saturday. The tally came in at 162 against and 76 in favor of the budget, which would have set that fire tax rate at 7 cents per $100 of assessed value. The proposal would have increased the fire tax rate by 1 cent. If the budget were approved, fire taxes would have increased by about $40 to $276 for a resident with home assessed at the township average of $395,400.
The Township Committee will decide whether the failed budget merits cuts at an upcoming meeting. It is the first time in several years that the committee must consider a failed fire budget.
Commissioner Frank Leonard, who didn’t run for re-election this year, said he believes that voters turned down the budget because it included a large raise for paid, career staff firefighters. He voted against the raise last year.
"Taxpayers don’t like to pay for 22 percent-plus raises," he said Monday.
Commission President George Gilbert did not return a phone call seeking comment.
A special question also was rejected by voters. Two votes was all it took for voters to turn down a proposal to renovate the firehouse.The 72-70 vote result comes on the heels of the county board of freeholders’ refusal to sell Millstone 3 acres to build a second firehouse. The fire commission must wait until next year or a special referendum to request the renovations again.
Two new fire commissioners were elected Saturday. Charles Nafus (170 votes) and Frank Toia (125) beat out Alex Credidio (119) for the two available seats. They will serve three-year terms.
Plumsted
Plumsted voters approved a 3-cent fire tax hike by a vote of 75-51. The endorsement brings the fire tax rate to 12 cents per $100 of assessed value. It was the first tax hike that the fire commissioners asked for in six years, according to Commissioner Aaron Heller.
"We’re really pleased it passed," he said Monday of the nearly $600,000 budget. "I think we did a better job this year getting information out to the public about the budget. And, as always, we invite the public to come to our meetings and stay informed."
The new budget means a resident with a home assessed at Plumsted’s average of $132,200 will pay $158 in fire taxes this year, which is almost $40 more than last year.
Sarah Jo Mains and Gene Pullen both ran unopposed for re-election to the fire commission. They received 109 and 105 votes, respectively.
After a bump last year when more than 200 showed up at the polls, Saturday’s turnout fell back to past levels more than 4,200 residents are registered to vote but only 126 weighed in on the budget.
Washington
Washington voters overwhelmingly backed the $2.5 million fire budget by a vote of 293-143. Turnout was more than double from last year when only 270 people weighed in on the budget, although still only a tiny portion of the town’s more than 7,500 registered voters. Saturday was the first time since 2002 that residents supported the spending plan.
At 26 cents per $100 of assessed value, the new fire tax features a 2-cent increase from last year. Homeowners with a home assessed at the township average of $175,000 will pay $455 in fire taxes.
"We’re absolutely happy that it went well," Commissioner Robert Hutchinson said Monday. "We don’t normally see this much support from the residents. We’ve done a lot over the year to show the Township Committee and residents the services we provide."
A new fire commissioner will be joining the district this year. Mike McGowan was elected to the post with 296 votes. He joins incumbent candidate Greg Zalenski, who received 300 votes. The other incumbent commissioner, Debbie Matson, lost with 144 votes.

