Cape May County’s four townships will host fire district elections on Saturday, Feb. 15. A total of 14 fire districts will ask voters to approve a combined $8.9 million in taxes to support their 2025 budgets.
In addition, Middle Township Fire District #4 in Goshen is asking for approval of $1.2 million for the purchase of a new fire truck. Lower Township Fire District #2 in Town Bank also has a public question on the ballot, seeking approval to purchase a new fire truck and equipment for a cost not to exceed $1 million.
Fire district elections give the public votes on fire commissioners, approval or disapproval of annual budgets, including the associated tax levy, and, where applicable, approval or disapproval of ballot questions that usually involve expenditures for equipment. In most cases the amount of the budget and the amount of the tax levy are very close or the same.
Fire commissioners in New Jersey are responsible for fire prevention and suppression in their districts. They make fire safety decisions, create budgets, set standards and provide equipment.
In many cases those running for fire commissioner – a position whose compensation is set by the township – are unopposed. This year only two of the 14 fire elections have contested races, Middle Township Fire District #2 and Lower Township Fire District #1.
The elections will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. at the firehouses for each district listed.
Dennis Township Fire District #1
Ocean View Volunteer Fire Co.
South Seaville, NJ 08246
Dennis Township Fire District #2
Dennis Volunteer Fire Co.
Dennisville, NJ 08214
Dennis Township Fire District #3
Belleplain Volunteer Fire Co.
Belleplain, NJ 08270
Lower Township Fire District #1
Villas Fire Dept.
Villas, NJ 08251
Lower Township Fire District #2
Town Bank Volunteer Fire Co.
North Cape May, NJ 08204
Lower Township Fire District #3
Erma Volunteer Fire Co.
Erma, NJ 08242
Middle Township Fire District #1
Cape May Court House Fire Dept.
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Middle Township Fire District #2
Rio Grande Volunteer Fire Co.
Rio Grande, NJ 08242
Middle Township Fire District #3
Green Creek Volunteer Fire Co.
Green Creek, NJ 08219
Middle Township Fire District #4
Goshen Volunteer Fire Co.
Goshen, NJ 08210
Upper Township Fire District #1
Strathmere Fire Dept.
Strathmere, NJ 08248
Upper Township Fire District #2
Tuckahoe Volunteer Fire Co.
Tuckahoe, NJ 08250
Upper Township Fire District #3
Marmora Volunteer Fire Co.
Marmora, NJ 08223
Upper Township Fire District #4
Seaville Volunteer Fire Co.
Seaville, NJ 08230
Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
