The following is from Evesham Fire District №1:
Evesham Fire District №1 is asking for the public’s support of Evesham Fire District’s proposed 2015 operating budget at the annual Fire District election to be held on Saturday, Feb. 21.
As defined by New Jersey State law, the polls will be open from 2–9 p.m. at all three of Evesham’s fire stations. Voters will cast their vote at one of Evesham’s three fire stations where their regular voting district is assigned.
The Fire District is asking for the voters to approve the proposed 2015 operating budget that provides for a small increase of approximately $200,000 in the overall budget.
This increase is for debt service for the new aerial apparatus as approved in the 2011 election. The total tax impact on the average homeowner is an increase of just 0.85 cents for the entire year, or just 0.07 cents per month.
The district’s proposed budget plan will allow it to continue to provide superior levels of fire and emergency medical services to the citizens of Evesham Township. Last year the district answered more than 5,500 calls for fire and emergency medical incidents. Additionally, over 4,000 fire inspections were performed resulting in every commercial building in Evesham Township being inspected at least once.
The Evesham Fire District is by far the lowest per capita cost fire department in our area. This is a fact that the district is very proud of, as these costs not only include fire protection, but ambulance service and commercial business fire inspections as well.
The district also uses the largest number of volunteers, 115, of any fire district in the area to deliver not only top quality, but also cost effective fire and ambulance service.
The district’s use of this blend of local resident, highly trained volunteers along with a top notch career staff has served to both keep the district’s operating cost low and, more importantly, the district’s fire and ambulance protection delivery services at a high level which residents both demand and deserve.
All of the proposed annual operating budget and bond referendum information can be found on the district’s website at www.eveshamfire.org
For further information, contact Chief Ted Lowden at (856) 983–2210 or Fire District Business Administrator Paul Thomas at (856) 983–2750.
