For another year, Evesham residents will see only a small increase in their taxes to Evesham Fire District №1. Voters passed the budget during the fire district election held on Feb. 15 with 267 voting for and 62 voting against.
Voters also elected Nila Paul-Helveston to the Board of Fire Commissioners with 318 votes. One voter chose a different candidate, Tom King.
In the budget, taxes increased4/10ths of a cent, rising from .132 per every $100 of assessed property to .136 per every $100.
The total appropriations budgeted for the 2014 budget equaled $8.58 million, of which 7.11 million will be raised through taxation.
Evesham Fire Chief Ted Lowden thanked the public for its support and said the district was proud to continuously serve the public by keeping a stable budget without having to drastically increase taxes.
“We work hard for the public’s support all year,” Lowden said. “We think we provide an efficient EMS and fire service for the community.”
In 2013, Evesham Fire-Rescue answered more than 1,700 calls for fire service and more than 4,200 incidents concerning emergency medical. Also, officials carried out 4,000 fire inspections, allowing every commercial building in Evesham to receive at least one inspection.
Although there were no other referendums on the ballot this year, Lowden said the way the district was able to keep the budget stable was by continuing to keep a conservative financial plan in place to keep costs down and by budgeting for larger purchases over a span of several years.
Five years ago, the public approved a referendum to replace six engines, and last year, the public supported the replacement of two, 20-year-old aerial ladders.
“The public has consistently come out in great numbers to support us in our endeavors … we work hard to keep their trust,” Lowden said.
The district also has several upcoming fundraisers and charity events planned. On March 23, to Marlton Fire Company №1 will host its annual model train and toy show. The show’s proceeds will go toward helping restore an antique 1927 Hale fire engine.
“The Hale was the first motorized piece of apparatus that the Marlton Fire Department ever purchased,” Lowden said.
The show is held at the Main Street fire station, located at 26 E. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Individual admission is $3, and family admission is $5. Vendors can call (856) 296–9423 for table availability and pricing.
“It’s a very well attended show,” Lowden said. “The whole bottom base of the fire station becomes an area for the trains.”
Also coming up on March 25 is the firefighter guest-bartender event at Outback Steakhouse on Route 73 from 5:30 p.m. — 9 p.m.
The event will see firefighters helping tend bar for guests, chatting and spending time with them. Assistant Chief Bryan Ward is in charge of organizing the event and said a portion of the evening’s sales will be donated to the department’s Relay For Life team.
“If people are looking for a night out and want to help raise some money for a good cause, this would be it,” Ward said.
