Don't Forget to Vote Saturday

Elections for fire districts 1 and 2 will be held Saturday, with district 1 keeping its budget level from last year and district 2 asking voters to approve an increase that will cost taxpayers—on average—an extra $3.57.

Fire District 1’s budget, with $1.7 million to be raised through taxes, will keep the tax rate at 49 cents per $100 of assessed value, same as . The average taxpayer (in district 1)—owning a home assessed at the township average of $529,800—will pay $259.60.

District 1 administrator Chris Chesner said he can’t remember voters rejecting a budget in his 20-plus years with the department.

“We have always had a strong support group,” he said, albeit a small one.

In 2011, only 136 people voted on the budget, including vote-by-mail. 2011 was somewhat of an off year however. There were 650 total votes on the budget in 2010 and 790 in 2009, according to Chesner’s records.

On a rare occasion, voters have turned down the district’s requests for capital expenditures in the past, he said, which require special ballot questions. This year, district 1 voters will be asked to approve the purchase of a new brush unit in 2013 (the way fire district elections work, they have to ask the year before they make the purchase, Chesner explained) for no more than $100,000.

Over in, voters will be asked to OK $696,238 in tax revenue—an increase of $12,973 from last year. If approved, the tax rate would go from 67 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to 68 cents, costing the average taxpayer approximately $3.57 more. The increase is just under the 2 percent cap mandated by the state.

District 2 administrator Liz Booth said the district hasn’t had a defeated budget in at least the 10 years either.

Turnout in district 2 has been markedly lower than in district 1, with only 31 people voting on the budget in 2011 and 64 voting in 2010, Booth said.

Voters will also have the opportunity to elect members of the board of fire commissioners. In district 1, incumbent and former chief Karl Shelley—a seasoned veteran with more than 45 years with the department, according to Chesner—and newcomer Bradley Kenney seek one open seat.

In district 2, incumbents Lawrence Niedermayer Sr. and William Wesolowski are running uncontested for two open seats.

The polls will be open from 2-9 p.m. Saturday. District 1 voters can cast their vote at the at 261 W. Main St. District 2 voters will go to the , 229 N. Lenola Road.