FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – On Feb. 16, officials in Freehold Township Fire District No. 2 will seek voter approval for a $1.43 million budget for 2019.
There are two fire districts in Freehold Township. Fire District No. 2 is east of Route 9. Firefighting services are provided by the East Freehold Fire Company.
Registered voters who reside in Fire District No. 2 are eligible to vote in the election, which will be held from 2-9 p.m. Feb. 16 at the East Freehold Fire Company, 191 Dutch Lane Road.
Voters will be asked to approve a $1.43 million budget to support the operation of the fire district and to fund its 2019 operating expenses, according to the budget document. The proposed budget, if approved, will be supported by the collection of $1.2 million in taxes to be paid by the fire district’s property owners.
In 2018, voters approved the collection of $1.19 million in taxes to support a $1.4 million budget for the fire district. The fire district’s tax rate was 4.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home assessed at the township average of $388,000 paid $167 in fire district taxes.
The fire district’s tax rate in the proposed 2019 budget will remain at 4.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. If the budget is approved as proposed, the owner of a home that is still assessed at $388,000 will continue to pay $167 in fire district taxes.
A fire district tax is one component of a property owner’s tax bill, which also includes Monmouth County taxes, municipal taxes, school taxes and other assessments. Individuals pay more or less in taxes depending on the assessed value of their home and/or property.