The Lakewood Fire District is hoping to balance the 2015 budget by looking for every possible source of revenue, Fire Commissioner Larry loigman tells TLS.
During its November meeting, the Board agreed to request that the Firemen’s Relief Association contribute to the fire district budget, Loigman says. A large portion of the Association’s funds go toward insurance and similar purposes for the benefit of the firefighters.
“A payment from the Association would not reduce their ability to pay their legitimate expenses, even slightly,” says Loigman. “On the other hand, it would help balance our budget, which may otherwise exceed the state 2% cap.”
Lakewood’s Relief Association currently has about $1.5 million in various bank accounts, says Loigman, and in all recent years it paid only a small amount in “relief” – usually about $20,000 or so.
“We are awaiting an answer from the association,” says Loigman.
There is also currently a split on the Board whether to exceed the 2% cap to hire new paid personnel. That is expected to be resolved during the next meeting.
“We are certainly looking for every possible source of revenue to avoid a tax increase in the coming year,” Loigman says.
[TLS]
If you are looking to avoid a tax increase there is only one way to do it. Move to a different town. Taxes go up and up in Lakewood. Yet, we can’t say anything because supposedly we are getting so much for our money!!? What’s sham.
say no to increase and no to budget cap
we are doing great in FD thanks Mr Loigman
you are a great leader and a true example of how you can do more with less
Thank YOU
this is no surprise. the current board has been spend spend spend . we had 10’s of thousands in reserve but you spent that money frivolously ! and you did so while saying you did not have to raise taxed. now the roosters have come home . we need to vote out these spend happy commissioners . The same spend happy commissioners that voted themselves a 100% raise this year. They did such a great job raising taxes that they decided to give them selves a 100% raise. Anyone else in Lakewood get a 100% raise ? changes need to be made
This is a slap in the face to every firefighter that risks their lives every time they go into a burning structure. The relief association is there for us firefighters should we fall on hard times. I understand that no one (including myself) likes tax hikes but there are some things that we need like new fire trucks etc. The fire budget is a fraction of what we pay in taxes and you can see that in your tax bill. I am not sure how much more us volunteers will take the insults. I understand elections are around the corner but this is just wrong.
So do we Rob Peter to Pay Paul?? or where would it end? if you take money fm an association that is there when firefighters fall on hard times and eventually there is no more money what then?
Thank you for all the efforts in running g our fire department! Our Fd is way better now than 3 years ago… THANK YOU
this is going to get interesting, time to make the popcorn.
The tax cap is bogus. Nearly half of NJ is over the 2%. Tinton Falls is the big loser nearing double digits. Taxes for FD in Lakewood are minute. Considering the FD’s heroic job saving lives and the properties we pay the major share of our tax dollars on we should pony up on the FD portion instead of stealing from the relief fund.
Adding to the list of the ever growing problems in the town.
Kiryas Joel Fire Department, upstate NY is next for Lakewood? Google it. Not so far fetched and maybe the future of Lakewood?
Larry straightened me out that we’re not stealing from the Relief Fund at the cost of our Firefighters. In fact it’s the opposite, the funds are available to everyone’s advantage. Therefore I take back what I said about “stealing” from the fund. Not true. I apologize for the error.
My heart was working overtime but my mind must have been on vacation.
commissioner Loigman actually voted against the pay increase… But let’s not forget.. The firefighters clothing allowance DOUBLED this year.. I didn’t notice any thank you’s
You do realize that the relief is there to help the needy as well as active and retired Firefighters that have served for decades putting their lives on the line to protect us. They should not have to contribute to a budget Deficit Because we have some commissioners that love to spend, spend and spend money on items that are no necessary.
they should be paying for things that the Firemen themselves benefit from like clothing allowance etc
To hey at 10:22am … I don’t know where you get your information but the clothing allowance DID NOT DOUBLE
# 13 who are ‘They’ ? the Commissioners?
the guys in charge of the relief association get compensated MORE than the fire commissioners
The relief association pays for all the firefighters to attend convention and drink beer in Atlantic city
so why shouldn’t it help with their clothing allowance that the commissioners just doubled
or their party at woodlake that the commissioners paid for
or the firefighters BBQ in the summer that the commissioners offered to pay for and paid for
or every time the firefighters come crying they need things the commissioners say here
did i ever here any of the firefighters say thank you? NO
is the department better then 3 years ago? yes we have purchased much needed equipment, truck, chief vehicle other equipment! so many more volunteers, so many more paid guys
FACT did Larry vote against a raise? YES
link to minutes where mr loigman tabled it
http://lakewoodfd.org/lakewood/wp-content/uploads/documents/470300418Meeting%20Minutes%20July%202014.pdf
Commissioner Loigman has been pushing since he came in and finally going to purchase a new communication system of close to 500 thousand dollars for the safety of the men and women who give their time and risk their life for each and every one of us
SO YOU DISGRUNTLED PEOPLE GO BACK IN TO YOUR HOLE AND STOP COMMENTING NEGATIVE AND FALSE COMMENTS , GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT
Yes we thank the fire fighters for all they do, but the spending has to be monitered. – Let’s not forget the two fire houses built on Cederbridge Ave., which was a total waste of money. The only reason it was done, was to cave to the threat that they won’t put out our fires if we didn’t give them 2 buildings, one for the paid fighters and a seperate one for the volunteers. – I’m sure the raises and other waste can be reduced as well, and still have enough money to put out fires.
hey BEM you have the same on Monmouth you have one on 1st and one on 8th
if you ever look inside the one on 8th you will see one of the bays hold a lift that they use to change light bulbs and one bay on first empty too they use it to wash their cars
Fire Fighters are volunteers and should not have control on spending of our tax dollars but commissioners should and are elected by the people to control tax dollar spending
It’s amazing how people speak here like they know everything as a fact when they heard it from “a guy that knows”. Why don’t you ask any of us fire fighters what is really going on instead of beleiving what you hear in the coffee room.
The relief should never be touched to help the budget it is for helping the volunteers who have served the fire department and when they fall on hard times the relief is there to help them. This just in Brice Alemany a long time Township resident is going to run for the position of Commissioner in the February 2015 Elections Good Luck Brice