Jackson, NJ – Jackson voters will have to decide on February 21st whether or not they will approve a 45% tax hike for Fire District No. 2 to the tune of a $1.6 million increase.
This comes as the district claims volunteerism is in decline and it will move toward a paid firefighter model.
“Our firefighters are responding to more calls than ever before,” said Scott Rauch, Fire District #2 administrator. “This budget allows us to continue providing the 24-hour protection our residents deserve. We are asking the community to help us serve them at the highest possible level.”
Voters in Jackson Fire District No. 2 are being asked to weigh in on a proposed $5.09 million operating budget that would significantly increase spending and raise the local tax levy, according to official election and budget documents released by the district.
The proposed 2026 budget totals $5,093,058.96, up from the district’s adopted 2025 budget of $3,495,046. The plan relies heavily on taxation, with $4,168,741.96 to be raised through local taxes to support district operations and capital needs.
District officials have scheduled the annual fire district election for Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Miller Avenue Firehouse, 785 Miller Ave. Voters will be asked to approve or reject the proposed budget and elect two commissioners to three-year terms.
Financial documents show the proposed budget includes $600,000 in anticipated asset sales and $35,000 in interest income, compared with $1,495 in interest revenue in the prior year. Total anticipated revenues rise to $5,093,058.96, an increase of nearly $1.6 million over 2025.
On the spending side, total appropriations mirror the proposed revenue figure. Operations and maintenance costs are listed at $4,158,792.36, up from $2,588,115 in 2025. Administrative costs are projected at $426,080.60, a decrease from the prior year.
The proposal also includes $100,000 in capital appropriations, $20,000 toward the Length of Service Award Program, and $209,213 in principal payments on debt service. Interest payments on debt are budgeted at $3,973.
• Proposed 2026 budget totals $5,093,058.96, up from $3,495,046 in 2025
• Local tax levy set at $4,168,741.96 to support operations and capital spending
• Voters will decide budget approval and commissioner seats on February 21, 2026
In addition to the budget vote, residents will be asked to approve exceeding the state-imposed CAP on spending relative to the 2026 budget, a requirement when proposed appropriations surpass statutory limit
After nearly a century of service, the Whitesville Volunteer Fire Company has ceased operations, ending a chapter of local firefighting history and marking a full transition to paid career fire protection in parts of Jackson Township.
The shutdown took effect January 1, 2026, following what officials described as a prolonged and severe shortage of volunteers.
The closure of the volunteer organization does not mean the Whitesville firehouse is closing. Station 57 on Hope Chapel Road remains active and is now staffed by Jackson Fire District 2 career firefighters, who have assumed full responsibility for fire and emergency response in the area.
District officials said the decision reflects a broader national decline in volunteer firefighter participation, a trend that has increasingly strained small and mid-sized communities.
In Jackson, that strain coincided with population growth and the moving of former volunteer firefighters out of the township. It was also due to rising demand for emergency services, prompting a shift from a volunteer-based model to a fully paid model.
The transition is also underway as Fire Districts 2 and 3 move toward consolidation, an effort to improve coverage, coordination, and operational efficiency across the township.
Fire District 2 reported responding to 1,575 calls for service last year, a significant increase over the prior year. Officials said call volume has continued to rise, placing added pressure on staffing and resources while reinforcing the need for round-the-clock coverage.
In 2025, the district reached several milestones that reshaped local fire and emergency services:
- The move to 24/7/365 career firefighter coverage on July 13, the first 24-hour shifts in township history.
- The expansion of EMS First Responder coverage to 24 hours a day as of December 1.
- Operational integration with Fire District No. 3 through shared response and reporting systems.
The changes come as voters prepare to weigh in on the Fire District 2 budget referendum scheduled for February 21. District officials have described the vote as critical, citing rapid population grow.