Millstone's fire district wants to raise taxes again Voters will cast ballots regarding proposed spending plan on Feb. 17 BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer MILLSTONE - Millstone Township Fire District No. 1 has proposed a 2007 budget that would rely on a $1.3 million tax levy. If voters pass the almost $1.5 million proposed budget during the annual election at the Millstone Township Volunteer Fire Company's firehouse on Stagecoach Road on Feb. 17, taxes for the average homeowner with a house assessed at $395,400 would increase this year by approximately $51. Polling will take place at the firehouse 2-9 p.m. The proposed budget relies on a tax rate of approximately 9 cents per $100 of assessed value. The amount to be raised by taxation would increase $230,146 compared to the 2006 levy, according to a budget presentation on the fire district's Web site. "With the exception of additional voter-approved funding for a new fire substation, the 2007 proposed budget is consistent with prior years," according to the fire district's budget presentation. "Appropriations increased $146,946 as compared to the 2006 adopted budget." On Feb. 17, 1996, the fire district obtained voter authorization to expend $620,000 and to issue bonds or notes in an amount not to exceed $400,000 for the purpose of acquiring real property to construct a new fire substation, according to information provided by the fire district. "Due to a variety of factors beyond the control of the board, the fire substation project has not been completed," the 2007 fire budget presentation states. The presentation continues, "Funds needed for the project will be taken from existing capital reserves and the 1996 voter-approved issuance of bonds or notes. As a result, the board does not expect that this project will materially raise the tax rate." According to the 2007 budget message, debt service appropriations represent approximately 10 percent of the total budgeted appropriations. On Oct. 7 voters approved the expenditure of up to $625,000 for the purchase of a Class A pumper, and on Dec. 7 they granted approval for the fire district to use up to $80,000 from unreserved capital for the purchase of a chief/command vehicle with all the necessary equipment. According to the proposed budget, salaries and wages would increase $64,595 over last year's budget of $488,847. Fringe benefits would increase $76,516 from $179,050 last year. Other expenses would increase a total of $49,285, and administration costs would increase $12,500 to $95,500. The fire district plans to use a revenue and fund balance of $179,300 to defray taxes, according to its budget presentation. The fire district's proposed budgets failed with voters two years in a row. In 2004, voters defeated the proposed $1.1 million fire budget only to have the Township Committee review it and pass it without amending it. Last year, voters turned down the proposed $1.3 million budget by a vote of 101-96. After the Township Committee reviewed the spending plan and held a public hearing on it, the committee voted to reduce the proposed tax levy the fire district was calling for from $1.1 million to $1.05 million and asked the district to use $125,000 of its surplus in order to do so. What resulted was a tax rate for the fire district that amounted to 7.7 cents per $100 of assessed property value, meaning that a property owner with a home assessed at the township average paid $307 in fire taxes last year. If voters pass the proposed budget this year, the average homeowner would pay about $356 in fire taxes. During the election, voters will also cast ballots to fill two seats on the five-member Board of Fire Commissioners. David Markunas and Michael Yock are seeking election to the one available three-year-term seat on the board. Alex Credidio and Paul Boegemann are both seeking election to fill the remaining year of an unexpired term.