The state said the study is complex given that Hamilton is protected by an unusually high number of fire districts.
HAMILTON -- The state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) said Friday their study of Hamilton's fire service could be ready in draft format by the end of July.
Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede, who requested the report last fall, has said it will be an important component in the anticipated consolidation of the town's nine fire districts - a process that is ongoing as Hamilton officials continue to certify petitions from residents calling for fire district consolidation.
Earlier this week, Yaede and a township councilwoman, said the report was ongoing.
On Friday, the DCA said in a statement that the study is complex given that Hamilton's fire protection services are provided by an unusually high number of fire districts.
"Despite this, there has been no delay from the (DCA)'s perspective. The (DCA) continues to receive information from various township parties and analyzes this information as quickly as possible before incorporating it into the report, the statement said.
"A draft report will likely be ready for review by the end of July depending on the (DCA's) ongoing receipt of necessary information," the statement said.
Although the DCA's process commenced in October 2015, the DCA said they received their first batches of information from Hamilton in January. "The actual review of data began in February 2016," the statement said.
The timing of the report is an issue, officials say, because once the Hamilton clerk's office certifies the petitions, the Hamilton council plans to hold public hearings on consolidation - even if the report is not done.
The Hamilton clerk's office, though, encountered problems las month while examining and the petitions, about 2,500 of them, gathered by the town's fire unions.
The clerk's office found nearly 10,000 Hamilton voters are assigned to the wrong fire district in Mercer County's voter database, maintained by the Mercer County Board of Elections.
Hamilton officials and election board are working to fix the issues, with Hamilton continuing to certify petitions manually.
Meanwhile, the Hamilton fire unions have been collecting more signatures from residents to bolster the number of petitions to make sure they have enough for the process to move forward.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.