Lakewood, Toms River, Freehold Township say no in fire tax votes

Most of the fire district budgets on ballots in 19 Jersey Shore towns on Saturday were approved by voters, but exceptions came from districts with the two highest proposed tax levies: Lakewood residents and voters in a section of Toms River said no to increases.

A district in Freehold Township also saw its budget defeated. Turnout was light in many districts. The elections by law are held on the third Saturday of each February.

Only 41 voters weighed in on Jackson District No. 2's $1.8 million tax levy; it was approved 40-1. A 26-1 vote favored Wall No. 1's $560,000 levy.

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The tax levies pay for items such as fire trucks and other equipment, for building or renovating firehouses, salaries for administration and, in certain towns, for professional firefighters, and for contributing to a pension program for volunteers.

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In the weekend elections, voters were asked to approve collective spending of $61.3 million for the current year – an increase of $3 million over 2017, or 5.3 percent. It's all tacked onto property tax bills.

In Lakewood, the proposed $6,250,980 levy (33 percent higher than a year ago) was defeated 224-176.

More: Lakewood to vote on 33 percent jump in fire tax

In Toms River District No. 1, the $5,497,530 levy question (a 3.4 percent increase) lost 456-334.

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in Freehold Township District No. 1, the $1,299,950 tax levy was defeated 127-109.

When voters don't approve a fire tax budget, state law requires the municipal governing body to hold a public hearing on the spending plan – and either leave it as proposed, or order the budget be cut.

Last year, the Toms River Council cut $40,000 from Fire District 2's defeated budget. Township Council members said there was almost nothing they could remove from the budget, but some residents expressed anger that the cut was not larger.

Some towns have multiple fire districts. Towns without fire districts do not hold fire budget votes because, in those cases, the budgets are part of the general municipal budget.

For the districts that have made them public, here are the budget proposals that were approved: Aberdeen, Brick No. 1, Brick No. 2, Brick No. 3,Freehold Township No. 2, Hazlet, Howell No. 1, Howell No. 2, Howell No. 3, Jackson No. 2, Jackson No. 3, Jackson No. 4, Marlboro No. 2, Marlboro No. 3, Millstone, Ocean No. 1, Plumsted, Tinton Falls No. 1, Tinton Falls No. 2, Toms River No. 2, Wall No. 1, Wall No. 2, and Wall No. 3.

Other districts did not respond to requests for results or do not have current contact information on their websites and budget documents.

Fire district officials can add their results by emailing them to bjordan@gannettnj.com