By Michael Benavides
Staff Writer
PLUMSTED – Residents who went to the polls on Feb. 18 voted to approve the 2017 budget put forth by Plumsted Township Board of Fire Commissioners, which oversees the Plumsted Township fire district.
According to unofficial results posted on the fire district’s Facebook page, the budget passed in a vote of 97 yes to 55 no.
The fire district is served by the New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company No. 1.
According to Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman David Gindlesperger, the 2017 budget totals $2.06 million, with $1.65 million of that amount to be raised through a fire district tax.
“This is a 0.005 percent increase from the 2016 budget and is well below the 2 percent state mandated cap” on tax levy increases, he said. “The 2017 budget shows an increase of $50,678 which is in most part due to the leasing of a remounted ambulance instead of purchasing a new ambulance, at a cost savings of over $100,000.”
Gindlesperger said the fire district tax rate will rise from 20.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation in 2016 to 21 cents per $100 of assessed valuation in 2017.
The average assessed value of a home in Plumsted is $240,000. With the increase in the fire district tax rate, an individual who owns a home that is assessed at the township average will see his fire district tax increase from $492 in 2016 to $504 in 2017.
During the election, voters elected Ken Hagen to serve a three-year term on the Board of Fire Commissioners. Hagen ran unopposed, according to a press release.
The New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 includes volunteers and paid professionals. The professional staff works from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to the fire commissioners.
The fire company also has an emergency medical services (EMS) staff that is funded through the district fire tax. In January 2009, a fire marshal’s office was added.
According to the press release, the Board of Fire Commissioners employs 13 full-time career staff while still overseeing and funding the volunteer operations of the fire company. In 2016, fire personnel answered 425 calls and EMS personnel answered 1,554 calls.