By David Kilby, Staff Writer
MONROE — The township is in the process of redistricting its three fire districts to resolve the disparity between tax rates between each.
Les Adams, president of Public Safety Solutions Inc, based in Chester, Maryland, is conducting the project.
Originally, the redistricting report was due March 31, but due to a rough winter and a large amount of unanticipated data, the township granted Mr. Adams an extension, said Wayne Hamilton, Monroe Township business administrator. The report is now due April 30.
”It’s a work very much in progress,” Mr. Hamilton said. “There’s a lot of data he’s going through. We mutually agreed it would be in everyone’s best interest to extend another 30 days.”
Thus far, Mr. Adams has done all of the fact findings and gatherings.
Mr. Hamilton explained the three fire districts were created a couple decades ago.
”You really have to look at it in its current context,’ he said. It’s not just the geographical area but also the concentration of development in each area.”
He added, “We’re anxious to hear what Mr. Adams will recommend,” he said.
Once the report is submitted, it is likely a committee will be appointed to evaluate the report and examine it in detail. I
”I expect that to be the next step,” Mr. Hamilton said. “This is not something the mayor or council will be rushing into.”
Many economical, political, and legal considerations must go in to the report, he added.
The main reason the project is being done is to achieve more equity between the tax rate of the three districts. The tax rate for District 1 is 11 cents per $100 of assessed value or $186 per year for the average property owner. District 2 has a tax rate of 19 cents or $322 per year, and the tax rate for District 3 is 29 cents or $491 per year.
But the disparity between the tax rates is not the only thing being considered.
”You have to look at this from the standpoint of volunteers and career personnel,” Mr. Hamilton said. “The reason we hired a consultant is to do that.”
Another goal is to consolidate government, he explained.
”This (consolidation of services) is something the government needs to look hard at on both the state and local levels,” he said.
He said the township took a bold initiative to consolidate its utilities department a few years ago, and the fire redistricting project is another opportunity to do something similar — although much more complex.
”I think people have a passion when it comes to public safety,” Mr. Hamilton said.
The township ended up with about four or five firms who responded to the project bid, and all were “national players,” Mr. Hamilton said.
He said Public Safety Solutions Inc. has completed about 35 reports similar to Monroe’s needs.
Mr. Hamilton said those reports resulted in the consolidation of the Union City, Weehawken, North Bergen, Guttenberg and West New York fire districts, forming the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Department, the third largest fire and rescue department in New Jersey.

