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MONROE: Local fire districts pass budgets

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   Residents in Monroe and Jamesburg came out to support local fire districts Saturday, passing all budgets and re-electing all incumbents, and electing new fire commissioners.
   Elections were held in two of the three communities covered by the Cranbury Press. Cranbury Township’s volunteer fire company does not have a board of commissioners or a fire district election.
   According to Board of Fire Commissioners Secretary Joanne Hayes, the Monroe Township Fire District 1 passed its budget of $1,817,630, which includes $1,209,415 to be raised by taxation, 99-52.
   The tax rate in the district, which covers the north part of the township, will increase $0.02 per $100 of assessed valuation from last year’s 11-cents to 13-cents.
   Vincent DiLieto ran uncontested for Fire District 1 commissioner and received 130 votes. Write-in candidate Anthony Malanga, who was also a challenger in the election last year, got one vote, according to the unofficial results.
   ”There was a much larger turnout last year,” said District 1 poll worker Brian Hackett. “There were more candidates on the ballot and there were some more contentious issues last year, but this year there is only one gentleman who has his name on the ballot.”
   According to Mr. Hackett, he has been working the fire district elections for the past three years. He is also a poll worker for the general elections in Monroe.
   ”It’s great to work the fire district election here,” Mr. Hackett added. “It’s great that District 1 has certified poll workers doing the voting and the election. It adds a level of creditability and professionalism to process today because everybody working today is trained by the Middlesex County Board of Elections.”
   Corrine Masters and her husband, Louis Masters, also a Monroe board member, came out and voted in favor of the budget in their fire district.
   ”Thankfully, we have never needed their services but from what we have observed they do a good job at being a part of our community and they are frugal with their monies,” said Ms. Masters.
   According to unofficial results, the proposed budget for Monroe Township Fire District 2, $3,517,675, with $3,336,375 to be raised by taxation, passed 193-80, and incumbent commissioners Glenn Borsuk and Edward Mitnowsky were re-elected.
   According to Vice-Chairman Glenn Borsuk, the tax rate for the district is 25.6 cents per $100 of assessed value. A house assessed at $165,900 would pay $424.70 to the fire district. The tax rate will increase 1-cent compared to last year. The total budget, however, is down $83,495, or 2.3 percent from 2012.
   ”Originally our tax rate was going to be 25.2 cents, but when we received the final ratable amount from the township on Jan. 10,” said Mr. Borsuk. “We had lost $17.6 million in ratables.”
   District 2 covers the southern part of the township including the adult communities of Clearbrook, Concordia, Ponds, Encore, Renaissance at Cranbury Crossing, Renaissance at Monroe on Route 33, two schools, several adult care facilities, and an industrial complex off of Applegarth Road.
   According to Commissioner Les Barta, the Monroe Township Fire District 3 budget of $4,681,829, with $4,599,829 to be raised by taxation, unofficially passed 177-55. The tax rate is 32.6 cents per $100 of assessed value. The tax rate will increase 1.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
   ”While this is a 4.6 percent increase overall, the district has managed to cut discretionary spending by 1.86 percent and ended the use of unreserved funds to supplement the budget, thereby coming in below the 2 percent property tax levy cap requirement,” said Commissioner Barta.
   ”Our intent was to minimize any increases in the tax rate while providing continued excellence in fire protection services” Commissioner Barta said. “The necessary increase in cost of operations and maintenance for fringe benefits are due to increases in health insurance and pension costs.”
   Residents had the opportunity to vote at four polling places: Rossmoor Clubhouse; Greenbriar at Whittingham Clubhouse; Regency Clubhouse; and the fire station on Schoolhouse Road at Route 522.
   Commissioner Barta was re-elected to fill a one-year term. James Fisher was elected to fill a three-year term.
   District 3 covers the central part of Monroe including the communities of Rossmoor, Regency, Greenbriar at Whittingham, two schools – high school and middle school, Thompson Park, most of Route 522 and the NJ Turnpike at Exit 8A.
   According to Jamesburg Commissioner Brian Wright, the $470,955 budget passed 28 to 13. The tax rate for the Jamesburg Fire District 1 will be 17.45 cents per $100 of assessed value. A house assessed at $124,300 is currently paying $218.76.
   Dina Walker ran uncontested on the ballot in Jamesburg and was re-elected with 34 votes to a three-year term as the treasurer. There was one write-in for Dwayne Fitzpatrick.