The voters in Toms River's first fire district passed the proposed $7.2 million budget when they went to the polls on Saturday, Feb. 16.
In District 1, the proposed $7.2 million budget passed by a vote of 187-117. The budget calls for $4.7 million to be raised by taxes.
Incumbent Commissioner George Convery was reelected with 260 votes, while incumbent Commissioner Craig Ambrosio was reelected with 252 votes. Both ran unopposed.
Voters approved each of the four questions, as follows:
* $450,000 for the purchase of replacement fire apparatus by a vote of 288-72;
* $150,000 toward the costs of capital equipment damaged by Superstorm Sandy, which is not covered by the district’s insurance or Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), by a vote of 229-57;
* $29,250 toward the purchase of two new fire vehicles, by a vote of 208-90. The total cost is $45,000; and
* $55,250 toward the total cost of $85,000 for the roof replacement and repairs, window replacement, electrical enhancements and upgrades at the Toms River Township Fire Academy, by a vote of 218-82.
Has District 2 been heard from with its Saturday election results? "The voters... when they went to the polls..." would be more accurate if it said "about 300 people -- out of 25,000 -- bothered to vote because fire elections haven't been combined with school and municipal elections in November to save taxpayers money and boost publicity and participation."
Don't give us that "keep politics out" crap, because a TR councilman is double-dipping at the public trough in District 1 (the "brain?" behind last year's secret referendum. The whole system needs to be reformed. Make it transparent to taxpayers and move elections to November -- then create one combined TR fire district and put it under the twp. administrator for more cost-effectiveness.