Lower OKs Budget

VILLAS – Lower Township taxpayers will see a tax increase in 2019, as the municipal budget was passed unanimously by Lower Township Council March 18.
There were no changes to the budget as introduced March 4.
Township Auditor Leon Costello said the $21.3-million spending plan includes a tax increase that would cost the owner of a $230,000 assessed property an extra $20 per year.
The property tax rise was attributed to a $324,000 increase in salaries, mostly in the police department, and $50,000 in solid waste disposal fees.
Police officers were added to cover both Lower Cape May Regional High School and Richard M. Teitleman Middle School. The municipality currently employs 50 police officers.
Costello said the budget was arrived at by using $2.5 million in surplus funds and left the total increase this year over last at $388,000.
Costello, of the firm Ford, Scott, previously told council the budget was within all the caps set by the state and left over $4 million in surplus funds.
The assessed value of property in Lower Township jumped $7.2 million over last year and is at $3.6 billion.
There was no public comment on the budget and council members offered no changes. Councilman Thomas Conrad was absent.
Lower Township Mayor Erik Simonsen thanked Costello and Township Chief Financial Officer Lauren Read for their work on the budget.
“We’re in better shape than most municipalities in the county,” said Simonsen. “It makes it affordable for people to live here.”