MILLSTONE — Voters in Millstone Township have approved the purchase of a new fire vehicle and a $2.2 million budget to support the operation of the Millstone Township Fire District during 2018.
On Feb. 17, voters approved two items sought by the Board of Fire Commissioners: the new year’s operating budget and the purchase of a custom built combination rescue pumper fire engine at a total cost not to exceed $878,000.
The fire district tax that is paid by the owner of a home that is assessed at the township average will drop by $9 from 2017, according to fire district representatives. They said the cost of the new vehicle will not result in any additional costs to a property owner’s tax bill.
David Markunas, chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, said the fire district’s budget was approved in a vote of 199 yes to 34 no, and the question proposing the purchase of the new vehicle was approved in a vote of 205 yes to 26 no.
The budget will be supported through the collection of $1.9 million in fire district taxes to be paid by the township’s residential and commercial property owners.
In 2017, voters approved the collection of $1.8 million in local taxes to support a $2 million budget for the fire district. The fire district’s tax rate was 10.99 cents per $100 of assessed valuation and the average home assessment was $532,623. The owner of that home paid $527 in fire district taxes.
In 2018, the average home assessment in Millstone Township has decreased to $525,300 and the fire district’s tax rate will decrease to 9.86 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
The owner of that home will pay $518 in fire district taxes, a decrease of $9 from 2017, according to fire district officials.
The new vehicle that will be purchased is a Pierce Velocity Rescue Pumper and it is intended to replace two vehicles: a 1997 pumper and a 1993 special services rescue truck.
Fire district representatives have said the purchase of the vehicle will yield savings in future fuel costs and maintenance costs by reducing the Millstone Township Fire Company’s fleet by one truck.
The rescue pumper can respond to fires and to motor vehicle accidents, the latter of which is the most common emergency to which fire company personnel respond.
The Pierce Velocity Rescue Pumper is equipped with a 750-gallon water tank and foam systems to fight fires and has more storage space for firefighting and rescue equipment to respond to motor vehicle accidents and other emergencies.
With the purchase of the vehicle approved by voters, the fire district will issue bonds or notes to enter into a lease-purchase agreement to pay for the truck. The agreement will last 10 years, after which the fire company will own the vehicle, according to fire district representatives.
“On behalf of the Board of Fire Commissioners and the entire fire department, I want to thank the residents of Millstone Township for their overwhelming support of the budget and the truck referendum,” Markunas said. “The fire commissioners worked very hard to present a budget and a referendum that did not require a tax increase.”
In the election for fire commissioners, incumbents Anthony Marra and Larry Cier won new three-year terms on the board in an uncontested race. Marra received 170 votes and Cier received 164 votes, according to Markunas.