Millstone Township residents have approved the collection of $1.72 million in local taxes to support a $1.82 million budget for the Millstone Township Fire District in 2015.
The annual fire district election was held on Feb. 21, and the tax levy to support the budget was approved in a vote of 82-9, according to election results provided by fire officials.
There were two three-year terms available on the fire district’s Board of Fire Commissioners. Lawrence Cier (67 votes) and Ronald Gesualdo Sr. (74 votes) ran unopposed for those seats and were re-elected, according to fire officials.
The tax levy is the total amount to be paid by Millstone property owners to support the operation of the fire company. According to the fire district, the 2015 tax levy is $79,995 more than what was requested in 2014. The 2015 budget is $15,005 less than the 2014 budget.
According to the budget information, the fire district’s tax rate will increase from the 2014 figure of 10.45 cents to 10.95 cents per $100 of assessed valuation in 2015.
That means the owner of a home that is assessed at $400,000 will pay $438 in fire district taxes in 2015, up from $418 in 2014. The owner of a home that is assessed at $500,000 will pay $547 in fire district taxes in 2015, up from $522 in 2014.
Fire district officials said the passage of the budget will ensure continued fire protection and public safety services to meet the needs of the township, resulting in improvements in emergency response, protective equipment and training.
There are nine full-time paid firefighters and officers in the fire district and 21 active volunteer firefighters and officers. Those 30 individuals are supported by eight probationary firefighters, one fire police officer, 25 members of the ladies auxiliary and eight junior firefighters.