For immediate release:

On February 19, 2022 the Fire District election for Fire District No.1 will be held at the Westmont Fire Co. No.1 from 2pm to 9pm. The election is for one member of the Board, and also two proposals.

Proposal No.1 is for the Operations of the Fire District to encompass the funding for the Personnel, Maintenance of the Apparatus, Equipment, providing staffing for the Ambulance, and other normal working expenses for the district.

Also on the ballot is Proposal 2 which reads:
Shall the Commissioners of Fire District No. 1, in the Township of Haddon, County of Camden, New Jersey ("Fire District") be authorized to: (i) undertake a capital improvement program consisting of the acquisition of various Fire Apparatus including, but not limited to, a Ladder Tower Truck, Ambulance, Utility Truck and Command Vehicle, together with such other equipment as may be necessary to acquire such vehicles and make them fully operational; (ii) expend for all of the foregoing an amount not to exceed $2,090,000; and (iii) issue and sell bonds or bond anticipation notes of the Fire District, or in the alternative enter into a lease purchase agreement, for said purposes in an amount not to exceed $2,090,000.

An explanation of why this Proposal 2 is needed is as follows:
The Fire District is bound by certain rules and regulations regarding the purchase of apparatus. As such we are regulated to obtain the needed apparatus by means of Bond Issues or Lease purchases. Our current Ladder Tower is a 1998 KME Tower Ladder. It will have reached the 25-year mark which is the lifetime of the apparatus in 2023. The proposal will enable the district to purchase a replacement for it, to better provide fire protection to the residents of the district. The aerial device is needed to be able to reach the roof levels of the normal home in the district as well as provide a needed escape route in the event of an incident in one of the many apartment complexes in the district.

The proposal would also enable the replacement of one of our aging Ambulances to provide the coverage to our citizens.

The proposal if approved would show an impact on the taxes starting in 2023, on a household. The following is a breakdown of the cost per residence.

Average Fiscal Year Impact on Home Assessed at $100,000.....$25
Average Fiscal Year Impact on Home Assessed at $200,000.....$50
Average Fiscal Year Impact on Home Assessed at $250,000.....$62
Average Fiscal Year Impact on Home Assessed at $300,000.....$75
Average Fiscal Year Impact on Home Assessed at $400,000.....$100

This impact statement has been provided by the Financial Group for the District. The District voters possess the authority to enact or defeat these public questions.

If you have further questions, please contact the Board of Fire Commissioners.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.