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LAKEWOOD FIRE COMMISSIONERS TO INCREASE TAXES - BUDGET TO TOP $10 MILLION, VOTER APPROVAL NO LONGER REQUIRED


The Lakewood Board of Fire Commissioners is scheduled to vote tonight to adopt their annual budget, which will once again increase local property taxes. Under a new law, voters will not have an opportunity to approve or deny this tax increase.

The Fiscal Year 2023 total budget reflects total revenues of $10,944,234, of which $10,845,907 will be raised by taxation. The remaining $98,327 will come from interest on investments and deposits, and operating grant revenue.


The Fiscal Year 2022 total budget reflected total revenues of $8,892,315 of which $8,834,988 was raised by taxation. The remaining $57,327 came from interest on investments and deposits, and operating grant revenue.


The amount to be raised by taxation in 2023 will increase by $2,023,419 or 23%.


The tax rate will increase .018 to .100. The tax rate is the amount of money you pay in taxes per $100 of your property's assessed value.

(The total assessed value of all property in Lakewood is $10,900,513,200. This number x 0.0009949904927 = $10,845,907 which is the total amount to be raised by taxation.)


A typical new duplex, such as in Oak and Vine,  assessed at $560,000, will pay $560 in 2023, a $100 increase over the 2022 tax of $460.


An older townhouse which is assessed at $417,900 will pay $417.90, a $75 increase over the 2022 tax of $342.68.

The budget includes a salary of $191,732 for Chief Jonathan Yahr, $155,000 for Administrator Yehuda Beer, and $110,000.00 for Deputy Administrator Steven Mulholland.


According to budget documents obtained by FAA News, the tax increase is due primarily to firefighter contract salary increases, a large health benefit increase due to more family coverage (additional firefighters becoming eligible for expanded coverage) and health benefit cost increase. Additionally, capital appropriations have increased by $1,250,000 to $1,900,000 for buildings renovations, a new fire engine, hose replacement, a rehab & care unit, the increased debt service for the new Seagrave 75' Aerial scope Tower Ladder. Operations expenses have also increased due to fire hydrant rental charges (more hydrants added and a increase in charge per hydrant). IT services increased due to contractual increases and annual fees for new software purchased in 2022. Training & Education was increased due to additional anticipated training costs from the hiring of additional firefighters and higher costs.


At the same time, travel expenses have decreased due to lowers anticipated travel for apparatus inspections. Professional services decreased due to lower anticipated legal costs. Advertisement & Promotions have decreased due to less anticipated promotional purchases. Membership Dues & Subscriptions have decreased due to lower anticipated annual renewals for 2023.


Grant revenue increased 87% due to the 2022 American Rescue Grant.


This is the first time the Lakewood Fire District's annual budget is topping $10 million.


The total revenue of the 2021 introduced budget is $8,234,037.00, of which, $8,180,170.00 was raised by taxation, and the remaining $53,867 was provided by state aid and interest on investments and deposits. The tax rate for this budget was $0.078.


The total revenue of the 2020 budget was $6,915,734, of which $6,861,867 was raised by taxation, and the remaining $47,327 was provided by state aid. The tax rate was $0.067.


For comparison, over these years a new duplex homeowner would pay:


2020 - $375.20

2021 - $436.80

2022 - $459.20

2023 - $560


And now here's the kicker: Voter approval will not even be required for this tax increase as the Fire District is not exceeding the 2% Property Tax Levy Cap.

Prior to several years ago, the Fire Commissioners held an annual election to ask voters to support or reject their tax increases. However, thanks to a new law, once the Commissioners changed their  elections to the November general elections, their budgets no longer require voter approval as long as the Fire District  does not exceed the 2% Property Tax Levy Cap.


The Fire Commissioners are expected to vote to adopt this budget at a Special meeting which will be held tonight at 7:00pm at 733 Cedar Bridge Avenue. Members of the public will be afforded an opportunity to be heard on the budget prior to its adoption by the Board.


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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Lakewood is a city and your costs are going to reflect that. If anyone has a problem with the budget where their money is being spent I urge them to show up and speak. We still live in a democracy.