Aren't our property taxes that just went up are suppose to cover this?

Jake, how about doing some real journalism? POST THE BUDGETS ONLINE!

Max
All fire district budgets ARE POSTED on line. Each district has a web site that clearly posts the budget. All you have to do is look.

The inefficiencies that cause us to have these high taxes are mind boggling. Do we really need three districts and three commissioners?! We should be voting on removing all three districts and combining services with neighboring towns to save money!

Just found the Montville FD budget. It is online, but they sure hid it well. Some items sure look interesting...

Purchase of fire apparatus - $180,000. I assume it's what kids refer to as "fire truck". If they are buying one, why is the old one not counted as asset, and sold? Or is $180k the price difference?

Buildings improvements - $75,000. Sweet Jesus, wish I could afford one. What are they improving there, I wonder?

Personal protective equipment - $75,000. For this kind of money, I hope our brave volunteers have a personal space suit each, with NASA logo and the President's autograph on it.

Uniforms - $32,000. I guess uniforms are not counted as "protective equipment", but they do cost a pretty penny. And have to be repurchased every year, no doubt.

Professional services - twice, $8,600 (in supplemental schedule) and $8,600 (cost of operations). Wish they'd elaborate the type of services; landscaping should cost nowhere that much.

Utilities - $33,420. Running up $3k a month in heating and electricity is quite an achievement. Or do they provide cell phone lines with unlimited data plan, texting, and cable TV hookup to all volunteers?

So, Mr. Cain, would you care to comment on these numbers?

PS: Spare me the usual "how dare you" outrage.

Check your tax bill. You pay more in open space tax and equal in library tax as you do for fire protection. Guess most people would rather read a book in the park than protect their homes.

Doing the work journalists won't:

Montville FD budget (required PDF plugin):
http://www.montvillefd.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=9:2013

Pine Brook FD budget (required PDF plugin):
http://www.pinebrookfd.org/publicnotice/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=3&Itemid=5

Towaco FD - "forgot" to post the budget.

Unfortunately, I cannot view the links provided here...and if Towaco has 'forgotten' to post the budget, maybe we should 'forget' to approve it.

The Towaco budget is online, an infant could find it with a 20 second google search.

Every Fire Department could use volunteers so instead of this annual wringing of the hands why don't you guys join. If you want to destroy the Fire Departments then we will wind up with paid Fire Service which will be a real tax bite. Each district has it's own generational history and Thank God for that. Why not just say thank you.

Maxim you have so much to say, Why don't you come out and join us volunteers as we only respond 24 hours a days 365 day a year. . We also have training two nights a month. We can sure can use a guy with a BIG mouth that sits home writing about us . We need new firefighters !!!! Bill

Scott Russell, Towaco Fire Dist. Commissioner

Yes, our budget is on our website.: towacofd.org. Our monthly meetings are held the third Wed of the month at 7:30 PM. to which the public is cordially invited. Be sure to vote tomorrow!

Thank you Scott.

I have the upmost respect for the work that our Township police and firemen do. I don’t see how taxpayers asking for more detail about how their tax dollars are spent can be construed to be disrespectful toward the police or firemen (although, I will admit that sometimes questions could be asked in a less adversarial tone, just as reactions to questions could be less defensive). Some of the budget figures seem a bit high, but an explanation could easily justify the figure and satisfy the taxpayers’ curiosity. The detail must be available; else, how are these numbers derived?

Max, using work as an excuse is pathetic.. you dont think these guys dont work their asses off everyday? some of these guys work 14 hour days and still make fire calls and drills. How about you shut up and stop ripping these men and women! I for one would like to thank these men and women and will support them fully for anything they need to keep their selfs safe to make it home to their family at the end of the day!

Oh and if you are this unhappy with how our town and fire departments are ran how about you move!

this is a lot of money for a social club ...!!.. How many fires they actually put down in all of montville in the last 10 years... it is cheaper to train few police officer or EMT to be rescuers in case of fire get the people out and let the house burn down then collect insurance and build better and bigger or buy out the lot with the Money saved every year for open space

Hey Pinebrook Montville, guess what Towaco and Pine Brook FD just did no less than an hour ago. They save a home from burning down in Towaco. How's that for irony? The lack of appreciation for volunteers is truly disgusting. The blind ignorance on this board is repulsive. Why don't people try researching topics before they spout ridiculous ideas on how to fix things that are not broken. Why don't you contact the people who's house was just saved and ask them if volunteers are worth it.

There is nothing to be ashamed with regarding the numbers that these three fire district boards put together. Theses numbers are responsible for both the taxpayer and the volunteer fire personnel. The fire districts in this township are the best bang for your buck. Considering the average taxpayer only pays $75 a year for fire protection by men and women who give up their free time and risk their lives for free for taxpayers in Montville township.

Yeah pin brook montville, that's a great idea! I'm sure the insurance company's would love that idea! What ever you'll save in taxes you'll double that to pay in insurance

Here's my real name Renee Sorenson. I am a volunteer firefighter for district 2-towaco. I'm not hiding my name. And here's what I have to say about the budget. I voted yes. Why?? The money allocated is to keep us safe....and to use the most up to date equipment to handle everything from vehicle crashes to house fires. No one in the dept has NASA outfits , cell phones or any other hoity toity things you think we waste your tax money on. A social club? Are you serious? We are a brotherhood that you sitting in your 500$ leather chair spewing your ludicrous and inaccurate babble would never come close to understand. Walk a mile in my shoes. I personally invite you to my firehouse and i will give you a tour on what we spend your 75$ a year on. Did you question the school tax this way? The library tax? The open space tax? No. You can't justify their purpose so you attack us. Want to know what each and every dollar is spent on? The commissioners meetings is OPEN TO PUBLIC. Each month. Every month. And you can ask right then and there what each dollar is spent on. But instead you sit there and attack us.did you check what your taxes would be if the entire town goes paid? Show me that number. Did you bother to ask around before you decided to talk about disbanding the volunteer depts? I guess not. Wanna have a sit down with all the volunteer firefighters of the town and ask our opinions of the budgets? I'm sure we would love to show you what we do.

......I work 12 hour shifts and still are able to donate my free time. But that's not the issue. I offered to sit and meet....wanna see your tax dollars at work? Stop by on your free time. Wanna a copy of the commissioners meetings? Ask. I'm sure the secretary of your district would be happy to email u a copy if you ask nicely. If your not certain about a particular issue on the budget? Ask. Email a commissioner. Phone call. There is nothing to hide. To everyone who questions what your taxes go for....ask! We live in the tech age....I'm sure something as simple as a phone call to obtain the facts your looking for doesn't impose that much time in your busy work/family schedule.
Personally the comments saying we are splurging tex payers money is hurtful to our membership and the way the townspeople see us. Im not going to stoop to bullying. We are adults and need to show this to our children. I believe in the way things are run in our districts are for the benefit of everyone. Please set aside the pettiness and help us...help all of you. I am willing to do what I can...how about you try on your end? Stop the hatfield/McCoy way of thinking and work with us.....

Renee, if you have nothing to hide, please explain me the $32,000 budget item for the uniforms, each year. You know the fireman's line of work much better than I do, so you might have an idea.

Max, my name is Jason and I am also a volunteer firefighter in District Two. For someone who has so many questions and seems so passionate about getting these questions answered, you seem to do little to actually seek out the truth. Renee just kindly explained a few different ways you can get your answers. My question for you is why you have such disdain for the volunteers? I recall a year or so ago when one of the towns volunteers, who works in Montville, volunteers in Montville, but lives out of town, lost his home in a fire. The fire departments held a fund raiser for this gentleman and his family. You were the first to post on the article and here is what you wrote:
"While my heart goes to the person who suffered such a staggering loss, one question lingers. Are the FD volunteers capable of providing proper protection from fire to township residents if they cannot protect their own homes?" Statements like this make me question your true motives behind railing on the fire departments. Is the taxes that's the problem, or is their an underlying issue? If the $75 a year for our services is too much for you, let me l know. I'll kindly mail you a check for $75, but in return, I'd kindly ask that you please stop disparaging good people who are trying to contribute to their community. For those who have voiced their support of the Fire Departments, a whole hearted thank you to all. We truly appreciate your support and will continue to give 100% 24hrs a day, 365 a year.

Max.....ask your district commissioners as I mentioned previously. We towaco firefighters cannot answer a budget question about your districts budget. Now you have the time for audit but not anything else i offered? or explained how you can obtain this information? Wow talk about double standard.
And..thank you to all who came out and voted yesterday. Our budget passed. And congrats to all the new commissioners. And thank you to those who support ALL volunteers!

Max, it was posted on the TVFD website, not too mention that its posted by Jake on this very article.

Max, let me help you, go to www.towacofd.org, home page, click on bottom link on left hand side, it says Board of Fire Commissioners, when page opens, click on drop down choice of Budgets, you will now see budgets for 2010 - 2013. Click on the Budget you would like to review. And do not say it doesnt work, because everyone else has been able to locate i and open it. You appear to be the only one. I want to thank the volunteer firefighters from Montville, Towaco and Pine Brook, they are dedicated individuals that respond to calls 24/7. I dont know whay you have such a negative attitude towards these men and woman, I for one and thankful for them. I know you will come back with a negative comment, you always do, it may be because of your ignorance, I do not know. But enough is enough. Maybe the Patch pays you to make negative comments on the majority of their articles to get readership up. And as the majority of posts have said each Fire District has open public meetings and they are also listed on their individual web sites. Please go to the meeting in your Fire District, ask your questions and they will answer any question you may have, this inviation is to all residents of Montville Township.

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