LAMBERTVILLE: Fire tax would go down if voters say yes Feb. 21

At election, voters will choose between two candidates to fill a two-year unexpired term

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   LAMBERTVILLE — The fire tax rate will decrease this year and save the average taxpayer $36 if voters approve the Board of Fire Commissioners’ budget Feb. 21.
   Also, voters will be asked to choose between two candidates to fill a two-year unexpired term.
   Two other candidates are running unopposed for two three-year terms.
   Mitchell Ege Jr. is running against Alex Cormier for the unexpired term that was left vacant by the death of Lester Myers Sr. in 2008.
   Mr. Ege is a volunteer firefighter and Iraqi war veteran. He is the son of former city Councilwoman Cynthia Ege and three-term fire commissioner Mitchell Ege Sr.
   Mr. Cormier is co-owner of Rick’s restaurant in Lambertville.
   ”He wants to start doing something for the community, and he thought this might be an interesting way to get started,” Business Administrator Mary Elizabeth Sheppard said.
   There is no contest for the two three-year terms.
   Former Lambertville Sewerage Authority Chairman Aladar Komjathy is running for the seat that is held now by Robert Hayes, who decided not to seek re-election. Instead, Mr. Hayes will become the board’s purchasing agent, Ms. Sheppard said.
   Incumbent commissioner and volunteer firefighter Nate Waldron is seeking a second term. Mr. Waldron is treasurer of the Union Fire Company and secretary to the Board of Fire Commissioners.
   Voters will be asked to approve a $633,827 budget for 2009. The tax levy, the amount that will be raised by local taxation, would be $486,149.
   The tax rate would be 6.6 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a house assessed at the average of $360,000 would pay $237.60.
   In 2008, the budget was $597,623. The tax levy was 555,626, almost $70,000 more than the tax levy that is proposed for 2009. The owner of a house assessed at $360,000 paid $273.60
   The reduction of the tax levy is an acknowledgement of the economic hardships most people are facing now, according to Ms. Sheppard.
   ”They made a conscious decision to try to reduce their impact,” she said.
   The commission is saving for the purchase of a new engine to replace a 25-year-old engine used by the Columbia Fire Company. Commission members chose to put aside $225,000 this year instead of $300,000 as it did last year, Ms. Sheppard said.
   The board has about $600,000 in savings that are earmarked for the purchase.
   Ms. Sheppard said the board is uncertain of the final cost.
   The purchase is scheduled for 2010.
   Voters may cast their ballots from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Justice Center, 25 S. Union St.