COURT HOUSE — Middle Township Committee Monday (May 17) held a public hearing on the township’s 2010 municipal budget, which will be asking local taxpayers for 8.4 percent more than last year.
The $21.68 million dollar spending plan is about $300,000 more than the 2009 budget, but has a tax levy — the amount raised by taxes — of $11.76 million that’s over $900,000 greater than last year’s figure.
The increase would hike the tax rate 2.8 cents from last year’s mark of 33.3 cents to 36.1 cents or $28 per $100,000 of assessed value.
Administrator Mark Mallett said the average home in the township has an assessed value of $300,000 and its local tax bill will increase $84. That figure doesn’t include school district or county taxes.
Mallett noted that the economy has severely reduced township revenues totaling over $1.1 million. The reductions included: $481,139 in state aid; $362,300 in surplus; $142,000 in interest on investments; and $39,213 in inter-local agreements.
He said there were also over $1 million in expense increases, including: $421,000 in employee health insurance costs; $300,000 in snow removal costs; $135,310 in pensions; and $66,800 in debt service.
As a way to mitigate the tax increase, Mallett noted some revenue increases the township saw through changes in ordinances and new fees totaling over $282,000. The changes included: $50,000 in tax sale notices; $50,000 in indirect sewer costs; $50,000 in FEMA reimbursement for snow removal costs; $34,000 in alarm reduction fees; $33,000 in trailer park fees; $29,000 in host community benefits; and $25,000 in ambulance fees.
The township also saw $883,893 in expense decreases, including: $290,000 in deferred changes; $176,838 in salaries; $112,000 in trash removal; and $100,000 in gypsy moth costs.
Committee did not vote to adopt the budget Monday citing potential amendments that might have to be made. Township Solicitor James Pickering said another public hearing would be held if the budget was amended.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com
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