The proposed budget includes a tax increase of about $1.91 per month for the average assessed home of $223,500.
For the first time since 2011, residents in Cherry Hill could see an increase in their fire tax bill this year.
On Jan. 4, the Cherry Hill Board of Fire Commissioners approved its 2018 budget that includes a tax rate increase of one penny from 0.287 per $100 of assessed value to 0.297. Residents with an average assessed home of $223,500 would see an increase in their fire taxes of $1.91 per month, or approximately $23 for the year, if the budget is approved by voters in the 2018 Cherry Hill Fire District №13 election on Feb. 17.
The tax increase comes after six years of no tax increase in the fire district. Cherry Hill Fire Chief Thomas Kolbe said this was possible for a number of reasons, including the expiration of multiple bonds, the revaluation of Cherry Hill Township in 2013 boosting tax revenues and the fire district’s ability to keep the budget stable.
“I know no one wants to see their taxes increase,” Kolbe said. “The board and me understand that. But we are responsible for providing effective fire and EMS service.”
The total proposed budget for 2018 is $29.3 million, an increase of about $1.6 million from last year’s budget. A big reason for the budget and tax increase was the fire district’s decision to move forward with an apparatus replacement program.
The district plans to replace two major pieces of equipment this year. There are plans to replace a 1997 Seagrave Fire Engine with a new, 2018 Pierce Fire Engine. The 1997 engine is part of the reserve fleet and will be removed from service and sold. The new engine will be moved into front line service, while the fire department will move one of its 2008 engines from front line service to ready reserve.
The second piece of equipment is a 1998 Seagrave Rescue Truck that will be replaced by a new, 2018 Pierce Rescue Truck, with the 1998 truck slated to be removed from service and sold.
The estimated cost to purchase both vehicles is $1.7 million. About $1 million will come from the operating budget and the remaining $700,000 will come from reserve funds.
“That won’t require any bond debt,” Kolbe said. “We’ll be able to pay cash, and those vehicles will be able to go into the fleet.”
The fire district is planning to replace a ladder truck in 2019. Kolbe believes the construction of this budget with money allocated for vehicle purchases will help the district budget for next year’s purchase.
“The goal is to try to space out the purchase of those vehicles so you can (pay cash),” Kolbe said. “They aren’t cheap vehicles.”
The lease of two new ambulances is also included in this year’s budget. The district leases its ambulances because of the high number of miles the vehicles are driven annually.
Last year, the board approved a three-year reserve and business plan, which Kolbe said gives the fire district a vision for how future budgets will look.
“It provides us with the guidance to make the financial decisions that we’re doing,” he said.
The fire district will be releasing more information about the budget and the election online and through the mail by the end of January. Cherry Hill voters can vote on the budget during the Feb. 17 Cherry Hill Fire District №13 election.
There is also one seat up for election on the board of fire commissioners, as William P. Kelly’s term is set to expire. The deadline for candidates to file to run in the election was Friday, Jan. 19.
