Fire districts elections readied for Saturday

By Birgitta Wolfe, Managing Editor
   Fire District elections will be held Saturday from 2 to 9 p.m. at local firehouses. District residents will vote on fire department budgets and members to the local fire commissions.
   In Bordentown Township’s Fire District 2 (Derby Fire Company), voting will take place the firehouse at 262 Crosswicks Road.
   The budget calls for a tax rate of 13.6 cents, according to Stephen Monson, its Fire Commission secretary. For the owner of a house assessed at $300,000, that means a fire tax bill of $408.
   Of the $1,55,312 total budget, $1,401,065 will be raised by taxation. The bulk of that, $1.32 million goes toward salaries and benefits, Mr. Monson said.
   Two newcomers are running for the one three-year open seat on the Fire Commission. They are Naga R. (Raji) Addepalli and James H. Kostoplis. Incumbent Joseph Fresco decided not to seek re-election.
   The Bordentown Township Fire District 1 at the Mission Fire Company, 51 Groveville Road, votes on a budget of which $612,482 is to be raised by taxation.
   The budget, which is within the 2 percent cap, calls for a tax rate increase of half a cent, from 12.9 cents to 13.4 cents. This means the owner of a house assessed at $300,000 would pay an additional $15 this year.
   The total budget of $686,831 increased by $30,142 over last year due mainly to hikes in utilities, maintenance and repairs, according to the fire company.
   Incumbent Sal Guido is running unopposed for the one open three-year seat on the Fire Commission.
   Chesterfield Township Fire District 1 votes at the Union Fire Company No. 1 on New Street in Crosswicks.
   Residents will vote for two open three-year seats on the Fire Commission and a tax levy of $474,380 out the total $646,299 budget.
   The tax rate increases from 9.6 cents to 9.9 cents per 100 of assessed value. The .03 cent tax rate hike means the owner of a house assessed at $400,000 will pay an additional $12 this year.
   Fire Commissioners Joseph Dubell and Stanley Lewis are running unopposed.
   At the Florence Township Fire District 1 residents vote at 401 Firehouse Lane on a tax levy of $1,270,020. This is a decrease of $11,818 from 2011 and calls for a tax rate decrease from 10.4 cents to 10.3 cents and means a fire tax bill of $309 for the owner of a house assessed at $300,000. The budget totals $2,071,981.
   This year’s increase in the budget is for matching funds for a FEMA grant to replace breathing apparatus. If the district is not awarded the grant, the matching funds will not be spent. Most of the matching funds would come from the unreserved fund balance.
   The Florence District also has a question on the ballot asking permission to spend up to $135,000, with self-financing up to $75,000, for an ambulance in 2013 or later. It also wants permission to send up to $350,000, with up to $325,000 in self-financing, for 38 self-contained breathing apparatus (air packs and their cylinders).
   Under the Public Employee Occupational Health and Safety Administration rules, the district is required to replace the air pack cylinder, said Kevin Mullen, battalion chief.
   Two newcomers, Scott Arnold and William Rzomp, are running unopposed for two open seats on the Florence Fire Commission.