The Trenton Times published the following article on February 18, 2013. To read the full article, click here.
Mercer voters elect commissioners, approve all fire district budgets
By Alyssa Mease/The Times of Trenton
on February 18, 2013 at 8:00 AM, updated February 18, 2013 at 8:02 AMMore than 1,200 people turned out to vote on Saturday, approving all of the proposed budgets and electing commissioners in each of Mercer County’s fire districts that held elections.
Detailed results are below.
Hamilton/CHESTERFIELD District No. 1
Voters approved a $597,196 budget 37-7 for the Union Fire Company. Tax rates will remain at a value of 17 cents per $100 of assessed home value for Hamilton residents and 9.9 cents for Chesterfield residents.
Incumbent commissioner Eric Campbell was reelected with 40 votes.Hamilton District No. 2
Voters approved the Mercerville Fire Company’s $3.6 million budget 43-4. Tax rates will remain at 36.8 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Incumbent commissioner Scott Fairfax was reelected with 39 votes.Hamilton District No. 3
The Rusling Hose Fire Company’s proposed budget of $3.8 million was approved 20-8. The tax rate will increase 10 cents to 89 cents per $100 assessed value.
Both chairman Joseph Zalescik and Commissioner James Gramigna were reelected with 26 and 20 votes, respectively.Hamilton District No. 4
Voters approved a $2.4 million budget 30-5, raising taxes from 5 cents to 65 cents per $100 of assessed value. A referendum to approve $71,024 above the 2 percent cap on levy increases was approved 28-7.
Commissioners Keith Leslie and Richard Coleman were reelected with 32 and 33 votes, respectively.Hamilton District No. 5
The Decou Fire Company’s $1.5 million budget was approved 82-25. Taxes will increase 3 cents to 80 cents per $100 of assessed home value.
Jonathan Tomko won the only available board seat.Hamilton District No. 6
Voters passed the White Horse Volunteer Fire Company’s proposed $2.4 million budget 223-43. A referendum to exceed the 2 percent cap on tax levy increases by $143,100 to hire two employees passed 198-66.
Commissioner David Barlow was reelected with 183 votes.Hamilton District No. 7
Voters approved the Nottingham Fire Company’s $3.5 million budget 116-18. The tax rate will increase 1.3 cents to 22.3 cents per $100 of assessed home value.
Commissioners Adam Bendas and John Marcucci were reelected with 126 votes each.Hamilton District No. 8
Voters approved a $1.6 million budget 29-3 for the Colonial Fire Company. Taxes will increase a half-cent to 45 cents per $100 of assessed home value.
Commissioners Patricia Willever and Brian Moss won re-election with 29 and 25 votes respectively.Hamilton District No. 9
Voters approved the $3.6 million budget for the Groveville Fire Company 55-15. Taxes will raise less than a cent to 49.9 cents per $100 of assessed home value.
Commissioner Bill DiMeo was re-elected with 57 votes.Bordentown District No. 1
Voters approved a $775,198 budget 50-3, including a $710,659 tax levy. Taxes will increase to 19.8 cents per $100 assessed value.
Brothers Tim and John Kinsley were reelected to the board with 52 and 51 votes, respectively.Bordentown District No. 2
The Derby Fire Company’s $1.55 million budget was approved 62-43, keeping the tax rate at 17.7 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Michael Danbury and Brian Schoen were elected to the board with 66 and 96 votes, respectively, while George Gareis received only 47 votes.Hopewell Borough DISTRICT No. 1
Voters unanimously approved a $496,534 budget 26-0, keeping the tax rate steady at 5 cents per $100 assessed value.
Commissioner C. Schulyer was reelected to a 3-year term with 25 votes and Melvin Myers was reelected to a 1-year term with 25 votes.Hopewell Township DISTRICT No. 1
A $3.2 million budget was approved 109-68, raising taxes less than a cent to 7.3 cents per $100 of assessed home value. Voters also approved a $175,000 bond to purchase a new ambulance.
Michael Cseremsak and Timothy Lynch were reelected to the board with 115 votes each.Lambertville DISTRICT No. 1
Voters approved a $761,771 budget 44-29, increasing taxes to 7.1 cents per $100 assessed value. Incumbents Robert Brown and Christopher Kascik were reelected with 60 and 64 votes, respectively.Montgomery District No. 1
A budget of $805,729 and a $750,450 tax levy were approved, raising taxes to 4 cents per $100 assessed home value.
Commissioners William Spohn and John Kessler were reelected.Montgomery District No. 2
Voters approved a proposed budget of $860,079 with a vote of 22-10. Included in the budget is a one-tenth of a cent increase in taxes to 4.3 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Commissioner Claude Lewis and newcomer Stephen Weingart Jr. were elected to two board positions with 28 and 29 votes, respectively.Pennington DISTRICT No. 1
A $399,088 budget was approved 37-6, keeping the tax rate stable at 2.9 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Incumbent Tom Timperman was reelected to the board with 27 votes and newcomer William Naylor was elected with 32 votes.Plainsboro
A $2.2 million budget was approved 36-3, keeping the tax rate at 5 cents per $100 of assessed value. Both Ted Wager and Kevin Scwartz were elected to the board, with 34 and 35 votes, respectively.Contact Alyssa Mease at amease@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5673.