PHOTO: The Township Committee this evening approved the Fire District Budget after it was voted down during the Fire Elections – but with a $30,000 reduction.
The Fire District budget to raise from taxes was originally $2,760,880., and was approved at $2,730,880. The reduction in the budget came from the Administrative line, Fire Commissioners say.
Fire Commissioner Larry Loigman says the reductions will not affect the services to the town.
“The Township Committee and the Fire Commissioners worked together to review the budget and make some reductions that will not impact the ability to deliver services to the public,” says Loigman. “The line items which were cut were administrative in nature; all operating funds remain intact, so that public safety is not even slightly compromised. At the same time, I think that everyone is now more focused than before on the need for tighter financial controls so that every dollar is spent wisely. Both the Committee and the Board recognize the tremendous contributions made by the firefighters, day in and day out; the budget gives them the necessary support to continue their work unimpeded.”
About 20 volunteer and paid Firefighters were on hand at this evening’s Committee meeting in a show of support for the Department. TLS.
Thanx, LFD for all u do for the community.
Yes, thanks to LFD for all you do for us.
And to all those who were so upset that the budget was voted down in the election, there was absolutely nothing to be upset about, because obviously the voters only wanted the budget reduced by $30,000 and it was all administrative anyway.
Next year, when the fire budget is voted down again by the taxpayers, remember that the voters are only voting it down because they only want a $30,000 reduction, nothing more than that. So it won’t affect anyone.
By the way, if you ask how I know that the voters only wanted a $30,000 reduction, its pretty obvious, no? The Township Committee is probably doing what the voters want, so obviously the voters only wanted a $30,000 reduction out of a $2.76 million budget. That equals .01%. In other words, a reduction of one (1) penny for every $100 spent.
Go figure.
so they say that the budgit cuts will not affect our abilty. i disagree. we have requested time and time again for equipment to replace equipmemt that has been damaged or broken compleatly over the years and are declined. we are told as firefighters that the money is not in the budget to replace this equipment.so how can larry loigman or any other commissioner say that budgit cuts will not affect the service we provide to the town. truth of the matter is we need equipment that we can not get!!! it is going to cost lives.. we are trading money for human lives , i just hope its not mine ..
Thank you for the all Lakewood firefighters volunteers
Some people in Lakewood forget that’s you are volunteers.
It’s not the amount of money that the Township cut that hurts, its the slap in the face to the Fire Department that they took any money.