PLUMSTED — Residents will have their say on the finances of Plumsted’s fire district when they vote on the $2 million budget that has been proposed by the Board of Fire Commissioners.
The vote is scheduled for 2-9 p.m. Feb. 21 at the New Egypt firehouse, Main Street. All registered voters in Plumsted are eligible to vote in the election.
The $2 million budget for 2015 will be supported by a $1.58 million local tax levy. The tax levy supports the New Egypt Fire Company and the New Egypt First Aid Squad, which operate under the direction of the Board of Fire Commissioners.
Officials said the budget was drafted to be an efficient spending plan.
“When we put in for a budget, with everything we need from classes to fuel, the commissioners and accountant go over everything to make sure we are right about what we need,” New Egypt Fire Company Chief Rick Byrne said. “There is no fluff [in this budget].”
According to the fire district, the budget calls for more than $1 million to cover the contracted salaries of paid personnel and about $500,000 for benefits. The fire company and first aid squad employ 13 full-time professionals. Both organizations are supplemented by volunteer members.
Officials said there were 429 fire calls and 1,590 calls for first aid services in 2014.
The 2015 budget shows a $91,000 increase over the 2014 budget. The tax levy is up by about $27,000 in 2015.
The fire district tax rate will increase from 19.8 cents to 20.2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home that is assessed at the current township average of $279,100 will pay about $564 in fire district taxes in 2015. In 2014, the average home was assessed at $276,048 and that homeowner paid about $546 in fire district taxes.
Although the majority of the fire district budget is supported through local taxes, officials said the remaining $488,000 is accounted for in various areas, including EMS billing.
According to Jodi Byrne, who heads the EMS effort, an estimated $378,000 will come from insurance claims and fees that are charged to individuals transported to area hospitals by the service.
The New Egypt First Aid Squad provides coverage for residents in Plumsted and New Hanover, plus portions of North Hanover and Upper Freehold Township.
She said residents in those areas who have health insurance do not need to pay the remainder of their balance when billed by the squad after insurance has made a payment, but residents from other municipalities are required to pay the balance of what their insurance does not cover.
The budget includes an unrestricted surplus of $78,500 and $2,140 from a supplemental fire services grant. Fire inspection fees collected by the district account for the remaining revenue in the budget.
If voters reject the fire district budget, it will be forwarded to the Township Committee for review. The committee may make recommendations for a reduction in the budget or leave the spending plan as it has been proposed by the fire commissioners.
On Feb. 21, voters will also elect two individuals to the Board of Fire Commissioners. Incumbent Dave Gindlesperger and newcomer Robert Brady are seeking threeyear terms on the board.
— Andrew Martins