FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Voters in Freehold Township Fire District No. 1 have approved a $1.38 million budget to support the operation of the fire district during 2021.
There are two fire districts in Freehold Township. Fire District No. 1 is west of Route 9. Firefighting services in the district are provided by the Freehold Township Independent Fire Company No. 1.
The annual fire district election was held in late April and the budget for 2021 was approved. The fire company stated in a May social media post that the budget was approved with 312 votes in favor and 127 votes against.
A $500,000 bond referendum to improve the fire district’s firehouse was also approved by voters. According to the social media post, the referendum received 364 votes in favor and 79 votes against.
At the same time, voters re-elected Michael Fogarty and Steve Lengyl to new three-year terms on the fire district’s Board of Fire Commissioners, according to the social media post. Fogarty received 382 votes and Lengyl received 341 votes.
The $1.38 million budget for 2021 will be supported by a $1.3 million tax levy, according to the Board of Fire Commissioners. The tax levy is collected from property owners in the fire district.
In 2020, voters in the fire district approved a $1.73 million budget that was supported by a tax levy of $1.64 million. The tax rate for Fire District No. 1 was 4 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home assessed at $400,000 paid $160 in fire district taxes.
In 2021, the tax rate for Fire District No. 1 will decrease to 3.35 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, according to the fire commissioners. The owner of a home assessed at $400,000 will pay $134 in fire district taxes.
A fire district tax is one component of a property owner’s tax bill, which also includes Monmouth County taxes, Freehold Township municipal taxes, Freehold Township K-8 School District taxes and Freehold Regional High School District taxes.
Individuals pay more or less in taxes depending on the assessed value of their home and/or property and the tax rate that is set by each taxing entity.