PLUMSTED — An effort by the New Egypt Fire Co. to expand its base in downtown New Egypt and relocate its first aid squad was defeated by voters on Feb. 5.
The fire company sought public approval to purchase property next to the firehouse on Main Street for $480,000. Voters defeated the proposal 355 to 179.
“It is a very sad thing for the fire department and our members, because it is hard to try to explain, especially to the younger volunteers, why every time they ask for something, the taxpayers say ‘no,’ ” Fire Commissioner Aaron Heller said. “But yet, when [residents] need us, we are always there.”
Officials said the $480,000 cost to purchase the Main Street property that previously housed a restaurant did not include costs that would have been incurred in order for the fire company to occupy the building.
An existing fund of $160,000 was expected to have been used to offset some of the costs.
“I guess the taxpayers have spoken. They don’t want any more services, and they don’t want anything that is going to cost them any money,” Heller said.
Plans called for the existing Main Street firehouse to be expanded onto the adjacent property, and for the first aid squad to relocate to Main Street from its current headquarters on Brynmore Road.
The fire company has been in charge of the first aid squad since municipal officials decided to merge the two entities in 2009.
Heller said he believes voters made their decision based on the plan’s impact on fire taxes, which he estimated to be $20 annually.
“By reading Facebook posts and seeing what a lot of people had to say, it was all about the money, $20 a year [more] is still $20 a year,” he said. “I understand it. I don’t want to pay more taxes either.”
Heller said the fire company’s plans moving forward have stalled, putting fire operations in a potentially precarious situation.
“As far as I can tell, there will be no more moves to do anything purchasingwise, because, obviously, we will be shot down,” he said. “I see us becoming completely stagnant and not being able to do anything we planned.”
The New Egypt First Aid Squad headquarters will remain in a township-owned building on Brynmore Road.
Heller said several safety and operational concerns exist at that building, which he said prompted the plan to relocate the first aid squad in the first place.
As a result of the Feb. 5 vote, Heller said representatives of the fire company will have to go before the Township Committee to request funding for any repairs that may be needed to the township-owned building.
“In the end, somebody is going to end up paying for something, or their services are going to be diminished,” he said.
On Feb. 15, voters in Plumsted will be asked to return to the polls to vote on the New Egypt Fire Co.’s budget for 2014. The budget totals about $2 million and will be supported by a $1.6 million local tax levy and other revenues.
The tax levy is the total amount of money paid by all property owners in Plumsted to support the operation of the fire company this year.
Within the budget, $875,512 will be paid in salaries and $484,614 will be paid in benefits.
Between the fire district and the township’s emergency medical services (EMS) unit, there are 11 full-time career (paid) members and between 40 and 50 volunteers.
In 2013, voters rejected a $2 million fire district budget by a count of 226 to 141. The Township Committee reduced the proposed $1.5 million tax levy by $75,000.
Recognizing that trend, Heller said he would be surprised if the 2014 fire budget is approved by voters.
In 2013, the average home assessment in Plumsted was $275,900, and the fire district tax rate was 18.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. That meant the owner of home assessed at $275,900 paid about $505 in fire district taxes (.183 x 2,759).
According to the 2014 budget, the fire district tax rate is proposed to increase to 19.8 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. That means the owner of a home that is still assessed at $275,900 will pay about $546 in fire district taxes if the budget is approved on Feb. 15 (.198 x 2,759).
Heller said he believes recent increases in municipal taxes that stemmed from a township-wide revaluation not only hurt residents, but also the fire company, as it caused voters to react negatively to the only budget — the fire district budget — that is voted on by the public.
“The fire company had no choice in [those increases], and [the voters’] only chance to voice their displeasure at the polls is during the fire district election,” Heller said.
“My opinion is that if the school budget could be voted on, if the municipal budget could be voted on, or if the county budget could be voted on, they would all be soundly defeated, as well. It is a very sad state of affairs for fire districts in New Jersey,” he said.
If voters reject the fire company’s budget on Feb. 15, it will be sent to the Township Committee for review.
Contact Andrew Martins at [email protected]