BUDGET WITH TAX INCREASE DEBATED TONIGHT

The Budget Was Previously Rejected By The State, And Is Back For A Vote

Residents are urged to attend the Budget Meeting at 17 Pine Street, Mount Holly, at 7:00 pm. The FD Commissioners will vote to approve or disapprove the proposed amended 2026 budget and address budget related matters.

Some of those matters may have to do with controversy over a paid “Duty Crew” program. Based on internal fire department discussions which the Mount Holly Reporter has reviewed, firefighters widely agree that the paid Duty Crew program is desperately needed. However, fire officials state to the Reporter that it is being implemented in a way that discourages volunteerism. This is because it does not require Duty Crew members to give any volunteer service. The reason that decision was made is that many or most of the Duty Crew are out of town professional firefighters who have a significant commute to get to Mount Holly. In some instances, this has resulted in the local firefighters cutting back or eliminating their volunteer hours in favor of getting paid shifts.

As volunteerism fades, the need for more paid firefighters increases.

One official stated that in other towns, this has inexorably lead fire departments to transition to a salaried service. The current budget does not contain such a proposal, but officials believe the trend is going that direction unless volunteerism is required. If Mount Holly does go that way, it will require something on the order of $2 million which would mean a significant tax increase for residents.

Internal battle lines on the current Duty Crew plan center on training and credentials, which the out of town Duty Crew unquestionably have because many of them are professionals from towns like Ewing. In order to grow a local Duty Crew of fully trained individuals, the Fire District would need to invest in those local individuals. But whether the Department goes with fully trained professionals who do not volunteer, or invest in locals required to give volunteer time for training, the District is facing a fiscal reality that will force increased payments.

As background it is important to note that in 2023, the State of New Jersey found that Mount Holly Fire District needed to implement a plan to increase its response rate to fires. The initial plan developed by Mount Holly was to pay Westampton to respond to Mount Holly fires during the day, and to pay “duty crew” firefighters for night shifts. The cleavage in the department has focused on whether this hybrid paid plan would include requirement for volunteerism.

Readers are urged to attend the meeting tonight.