Fire District Budget Vote Is Saturday

The township’s fire department is calling for a zero increase in the amount of funds raised by taxation for its yearly budget.

Elections will be held Saturday from 2 to 9 p.m. at the community center on Riverton Road.

This is the third year in a row where the amount to be raised has stayed the same.

“We looked at every possible way of sharing resources with the township government, the Cinnaminson Sewage Authority (and) the school district, so we can get the best deals on everything,” said Rich Dietrich, commissioner and treasurer.

The 2011 budget is at $3,149,306. The amount of be raised by taxation is $2,741,234. The remaining funds are from the fire district’s budget surplus carried over from last year, grants, interest and inspection fees.

For the average homeowner in Cinnaminson, whose home is valued at $295,000, there is no increase.

Incumbent Harry Smith is running unopposed for an open commissioner seat.

There were obstacles however, Dietrich said, in preparing this year’s budget. Pension costs are increasing everywhere.

“It’s approximately 49 percent more than what it was for 2010,” Dietrich said. “That’s one of the things that make it difficult.”

Health insurance premiums and cost of fuel has increased, but Dietrich said, “Fortunately, it hasn’t been too much.”

Dietrich is a retired accountant and in 2009, he shopped for a new accounting system to mange expenses.

“It’s given us much better control of our expenditures,” he said. ”We were also able to increase our total investment revenue.”

Dietrich said the district stared a procedure of looking at older, outdated equipment that wasn’t being used. They sell some of that equipment on what he said is like eBay for municipal and state governmental agencies.

Currently, there are 14 full-time firemen and a total of about 45 volunteers. There are two firehouses—one on and another on .

Visit cinnaminsonfire.org for more detailed information about Saturday’s vote.