Millstone Township residents will be asked to approve a $1.72 million tax levy to support a $1.82 million budget for the Millstone Township Fire District in 2015.
The annual fire district election will be held from 2-9 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Millstone Township Fire Company, 461 Stagecoach Road. All registered voters are eligible to vote in the election.
According to information provided by 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.
The tax levy is the total amount paid by Millstone property owners to support the operation of the fire company.
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, and result 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, according to information posted on the fire company’s website.
There were several accomplishments of note in 2014, according to the fire district. There were a total of 748 incidents. There were 29 structural fires and 82 mutual aid responses for neighboring communities.
There were 106 motor vehicle accident calls, including nine that required an individual or individuals to be extricated, and nine vehicle fires.
In addition, there were responses to 36 downed power lines, four brush fires, 21 carbon monoxide detector activations (eight calls with high readings) and 14 hazardous materials incidents.
During the year, Claude Dey was honored for 50 years of service to the fire company, and Neil Robinson and Chris Villanueva completed their training at the Monmouth County Fire Academy, Howell, according to a presentation about the 2015 budget that is posted on the fire company’s website.