Three vehicles, including pumper, can’t be bought outside 2% tax cap
By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
Fire commissioners are trying to decide their next move on buying vehicles they consider important for fire-fighting operations.
Hillsborough voters closely split their decisions Thursday night in a special election, authorizing potential spending for up to $205,000 for two of five items put before them by the township’s fire commission. Approval was needed to exceed next year’s state-imposed 2 percent cap on property tax increases.
The commission ran up against populist sentiment against raising taxes, as well as some backlash from a perceived unfairness over a hastily called "special meeting" with minimal publicity. The "election" was held for two hours in mid-summer, and, except for press news coverage, was only publicized as a small legal advertisement one week before the vote.
As he read the votes to be tallied Thursday night, Fire Commissioner Charles Nuara hesitated at one ballot, where a voter had checked "yes" to four of the five questions — and then wrote "no more taxes" on the bottom.
He said Tuesday that some people appeared confused about what they voting for. He personally explained the questions and procedures to voters who asked Thursday night. In at least a couple of instances, the voter asked for a replacement ballot.
He said the commission tried to win approval "the right way." Other towns hold explanatory meetings and ask for a show of hands of people at the meeting, he said. The pressing decision on buying a vehicle to carry investigative equipment from a neighboring department drove the timing of the mid-summer question, he said.
Mr. Nuara said the commission will seek state Department of Community Affairs approval to put up the two items in the 2015 budget outside of the tax-increase cap. The amounts are up to $45,000 for new fire pagers to alert volunteers of an emergency, and up to $160,000 for improved vehicle exhaust ventilation systems for all three township fire houses. The vote on pagers was 129-116 and the count on the ventilation was 132-113.
Three vehicles with a projected total maximum expense of $850,000 were rejected by the voters.
The largest amount is a potential $750,000 to buy a pumper truck for the Flagtown company. The commission had sought to buy the replacement truck a year earlier than originally scheduled. The vote was 129-117.
Mr. Nuara said a vote to buy that pumper, which is nearing the end of its 20-year projected useful life, may be put on the ballot for the annual fire budget election in February.
Voters also turned down, 128-118, a request to exceed the cap for up to $50,000 for a pickup truck for Fire Company No. 2. The company is retiring a 1989 brush truck. The proposed four-wheel-drive, crew cab pickup was to be dedicated for fire police traffic control and other duties.
There was a tie vote, 123-123, on a vehicle for the fire marshal’s office, not to exceed $50,000 from budget funds approved in 2014, to carry special fire investigative equipment. A tie vote constitutes a "no," meaning the township will likely lose the chance to buy a suitable low-mileage vehicle from neighboring Franklin Township, which is apt to sell to the next bidder, commissioners said.
The first tally of votes on the question was 123-122 to authorize buying. A recount came up with the tie.
Polls were open for two hours Thursday night, using paper ballots and a cardboard box to accept the votes. About 1 percent of township voters came out.
The commission will now apply to the state for permission to exceed the cap for the pagers and ventilation, and include them in the February election. Commissioners will have to see if they can maneuver the budget to be able to buy the two smaller vehicles within the capped budget, or have another vote to exceed the cap.
The current year’s fire commission budget is $2.38 million, of which $1.7 million is raised by local property taxes. The amount is shown on a separate line on a property owner’s tax bill.
Voting yes to all five questions would have had the potential to raise the fire tax on the "average" assessed household by about $50 for one year, said the commission. As an example, a home valued at $250,000 pays about $82 a year in fire taxes.
The replacement for a 20-year-old pumper for the Flagtown company was sought a year ahead of its normal schedule to avoid spending on repairs, when it might be better put toward buying a new vehicle, commissioners said.
The fire commission has the power to set its own budget and to raise money to meet it, subject to state laws. The commission coordinates equipment and training needs among the three firehouses in the township and contracts with the Neshanic Fire Company for service in the western part of the township.
The commission has said it finds itself hamstrung by the 2 percent cap, which is easily being gobbled up for operating needs — like insurance, tools, fuel and turnout gear — and limiting the amount of money that can put into a savings account for future large purchases.