Bordentown, Florence and Chesterfield township fire department elections to be held Feb. 18
By: Scott Morgan
On Feb. 18, area voters will decide the outcome of the Florence, Bordentown and Chesterfield township fire department elections.
Local polls will be open from 2 to 9 p.m.
Bordentown Township
Fire Commissioner Salvatore Guido will run unopposed for a third three-year term in District 1 this year. His is the only seat open.
District 1 voters will be asked to support a $507,993 fire budget, of which $406,961 will be raised through taxes. The budget is up $35,457 from last year’s and the tax rate per $100 of assessed valuation is up a penny to 23 cents. For the owner of a township-average $132,000 house, that translates into a tax bill of $303.60 a year.
Fire Commissioner Tim Kinsley said costs are up due to basic costs of operations increases.
"Things are just more expensive," Mr. Kinsley said.
Voting will take place at Mission Fire Company on Groveville Road.
In District 2, newcomer Joseph Fresco will run unopposed for the commission seat about to be vacated by Sue Givens. Mr. Fresco, who unsuccessfully ran for a commission seat last year, would be elected to his first three-year term.
District 2 voters will decide on a $1,273,394 budget, $905,022 of which would be raised through taxation. The overall budget is up nearly $32,000 from last year. The proposed 2006 tax rate is 20.43 cents per $100 of assessed property value equaling a $269.68 bill for the owner of the township’s average-assessed property and is up from 19.9 cents from last year.
As in District 1, the reason for the rise, said Fire Commissioner Jennifer Kafer, is basic operating cost increases.
Voting will take place at Derby Fire Company on Route 528.
Chesterfield
A pair of incumbents in each township fire district will run unopposed for new three-year terms this year. In District 1, Stanley Lewis and Joe Dubell seek new terms, while in District 2, Charles Jones and Donald Longstreet also seek new terms on the Board of Fire Commissioners.
District 1 voters will decide on a $350,490 budget, of which $308,140 would be raised through taxation. The budget is almost $72,000 higher than last year’s $278,680 package. Fire Commissioner Dana Boyadjin said the increase is due to increased costs in the water supply lines the district rents, accelerating growth in the western end of town (causing higher water and sewer rates) coupled with a surplus that is $95,000 less than last year’s.
The new budget also carries a tax rate of 22 cents per $100 of assessed property value, which translates into a $466.40 annual bill for the owner of a $212,000 home, the township’s average assessment. A reassessment of the township’s home values is in process, but will not affect any budgets until 2007, according to Township Clerk Bonnie Haines.
All voting will take place at Union Fire Company No. 1 on New Street.
In District 2, voters will decide on a $212,256 budget, of which $106,285 will be raised through taxation. The budget is up $4,100 from last year’s, mainly due to some new equipment for the district and the beginning payments on the department’s new $32,000 firetruck, according to Fire Commissioner Jack Homa.
The new budget carries a tax rate of 11.2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, meaning a $237.44 annual bill for the owner of the average-assessed township property.
Voting will take place at Chesterfield Hose Company on Bordentown-Chesterfield Road.
Florence
Township voters will decide on the fire district’s $1,409,810 budget package, which would raise $885,150 through taxation, but would not increase the tax rate for the fourth straight year.
As part of the district’s five-year plan, the tax rate will stay at 15.75 cents per $100 of assessed property value. For the owner of a home assessed at $112,000 the township average, that translates into a $176.40 annual bill.
The budget itself is up $270,000 from last year because, according to Fire Chief Ed Kensler, the district is expecting large grant revenues for which the budget must account. Also, Chief Kensler said, there are costs associated with the recently announced merger of the township fire and EMS squads into a unified entity.
Four men will vie for a pair of three-year Fire Commission seats. Incumbents John Dulo and Jack Jobes will seek new terms, while Jason Bergstrom and Tom Stanuikynas will seek their first.
Voting will take place at Florence Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 Delaware Avenue.