By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
MILLSTONE – Voters have given their stamp of approval to the 2017 budget that was proposed by the Millstone Township Board of Fire Commissioners. The board oversees the township’s fire district.
The Millstone Township Volunteer Fire Company provides firefighting services in the municipality.
In the annual fire district election held on Feb. 18, the budget was approved by a vote of 163 to 54, according to results provided by Fire Commissioner David Markunas.
The board proposed a budget of $2 million to support the operation of the fire district in 2017. The budget will be supported through the collection of $1.8 million in taxes, according to the spending plan.
In 2016, voters approved the collection of $1.74 million in local taxes to support a $1.99 million budget for the fire district. The fire district’s tax rate was 10.94 cents per $100 of assessed valuation and the average home assessment was $532,623. The owner of that home paid $501 in fire district taxes.
In 2017, the average home in Millstone Township remains assessed at $532,623, but the fire district’s tax rate will increase to 10.99 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of that home will pay $527 in fire district taxes, an increase of $26.
A fire district tax is one component of a property owner’s tax bill, which also includes Monmouth County taxes, municipal taxes, school taxes and other assessments. Individuals pay more or less in taxes depending on the assessed value of their home and/or property.
“On behalf of the Board of Fire Commissioners, I would like to thank everyone who came out to vote,” Markunas said. “We are grateful for the support from the residents of Millstone Township.”
In the election for fire commissioners, Marie Reed, Genevieve Semanchick and Anthony Marra won terms on the board.
Marra is an incumbent who was appointed to the panel in 2016 to fill a vacant seat. He ran unopposed for a one-year unexpired term and received 149 votes.
Reed and Semanchick are newcomers and they won a contested race for two three-year terms on the board. Reed received 129 votes and Semanchick received 119 votes to claim the seats, according to results provided by Markunas.
Incumbent commissioner Russell Taylor received 91 votes and fell short of retaining his seat on the board.
