By Geoffrey Wertime, Staff Writer
Voters in five area fire districts will have the chance to voice their opinions this Saturday in the annual fire elections.
But this year, every district in the state will use paper ballots, even the two in Bordentown and the one in Florence which normally use voting machines.
A state law went into effect Jan. 1 requiring machines to leave a paper trail, said Burlington County Superintendent of Elections Joanne Nyikita.
While the state Legislature has taken steps to allow the existing machines to be used, the state Senate will not meet again until after the Feb. 21 fire elections. Voting on school budgets in April also will be done by paper if the Senate does not take action when it reconvenes, Ms. Nyikita added.
All fire elections will run from 2 to 9 p.m.
Voters in Chesterfield District 1, which encompasses Crosswicks and part of Hamilton Township, will be asked to approve a 1.2-cent per $100 of assessed property value tax increase over last year’s tax rate. For the owner of a house valued at last year’s township average of $462,568, this would mean a bill of about $444.10.
Two incumbents, Joseph Dubell and Stanley Lewis, will run for three-year seats as fire commissioners. Brent Dickinson will run to finish out a one-year, unexpired term to which he was appointed after former Fire Commissioner James Quinn moved out of the state late last year.
Voting will take place at the Union Fire Department on New Street in Crosswicks.
In Chesterfield District 2, voters will face an increase of .3 cents, which would mean an average bill of $305.29 if approved. The district has two open three-year seats this year, for which incumbent Charles Jones and newcomer Robert Bruch are running.
Voting will take place at the Chesterfield Fire Department on Bordentown-Chesterfield Road.
In Bordentown Township District 1, which covers the northern part of the township, voters will be asked to consider a 1.9-cent tax increase. For the owner of a house assessed at $250,000, this would lead to a fire tax bill of $637.50.
The total fire budget would actually decrease, but the district will have less surplus money to use to buffer the tax rate.
Only one position will be available on the board. Incumbent Sal Guido, whose term is expiring, will run unopposed for the three-year seat. Voting will take place at the Mission Fire Company, 51 Groveville Road, Yardville.
Bordentown Township District 2 voters will be asked to consider both the budget and a second question to hire two full-time firefighters. Should the budget and second ballot question both pass, the tax rate would go up 1.9 cents, to 25.1 cents per $100 of assessed home value. If the budget passes but the referendum fails, the tax rate will be 22.7 cents, half a penny lower than last year’s rate.
For a house assessed at $250,000, the fire tax bill would be $627.50 if both questions pass, and $567.50 if only the budget is approved.
Fire Commissioner Joseph Fresco, whose term expires this year, will be the sole candidate for a three-year term on the board.
Voting will take place at the Derby Fire Company, 262 Crosswicks Road.
Florence, which has a townshipwide district, will ask voters to approve a budget that is not anticipated to raise the tax rate, 17.8 cents per $100 of assessed property value, thanks to a surplus in funds and an increase in ratables. The owner of a house assessed at the average last year, $112,000, would still pay about $199 in fire taxes.
Incumbent Tom Stanuikynas and newcomer Arnold Miller are both running for a two-year unexpired term on the commission. Incumbent John Fratinardo will run for one three-year seat, and newcomer John M. Dulo will run for the other.
Voting will take place at the Florence Township Fire Department at 401 Firehouse Lane.
