MILLSTONE – The annual public vote on a budget that supports the operation of the Millstone Township Fire District will now be held in November.
In a Facebook post, representatives of the fire district said residents will vote on the 2020 budget on Nov. 3. Prior to this year, the public vote on the fire district’s budget had been held in February.
The Millstone Township Fire District is served by the Millstone Township Fire Company, which has its headquarters in the Clarksburg section of the municipality. The fire company is made up of paid professional firefighters and volunteer firefighters.
The fire district’s 2019 budget totaled $2.24 million and was supported by the collection of $1.84 million in taxes from residential and commercial property owners in Millstone Township. The fire district tax rate was 9.86 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home assessed at $525,000 paid $518 in fire district taxes.
According to the Board of Fire Commissioners, for 2020, the fire district is proposing a $2.34 million budget that will be supported by the collection of $2 million in taxes. The tax rate is proposed to increase to 10.72 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home assessed at $525,000 will pay $562 in fire district taxes if the budget is approved.
A fire district tax is one component of a property owner’s tax bill, which also includes Monmouth County taxes, Millstone Township municipal taxes and Millstone Township K-8 School District taxes.
An individual pays more or less in taxes depending on the assessed value of his home and/or property and the tax rate that is set by each taxing entity.
According to the fire commissioners, the $160,000 increase in the tax levy from 2019 to 2020 is the result of an increase in protective and firefighting equipment because new gear has to be purchased for two new firefighters and an increase in advertising and public awareness because the fire district will be advertising for building renovations.
