Upper Introduces Budget, Includes Tax Hike

PETERSBURG – At its March 9 meeting, Upper Township Committee introduced the 2020 municipal budget, which includes a tax hike that Township Administration connects to two factors: a combination of cost increases and a decrease in ratables occasioned by the dormant B. L. England Generating Station’s reassessment.
In 2019, Committee unanimously approved a budget of $ 13.72 million, with a municipal tax rate of 19.5 cents per $100 of assessed value. According to Barbara Lund, the total 2020 budget is $ 14.915 million.
“The Township will see a .004 increase in the tax rate, which represents an increase to the average homeowner of just over $11,” Lund said.
As a footnote to the status and future of the plant and its acreage, speculation has been heightened by options mentioned by Mayor Richard Palombo. Those options range from the possibility that the plant might become a new marina zone, waterfront hotel or landing site for electricity to be generated by a proposed offshore wind farm.
Another penny increase is expected to cover 2020 spending increases. Lund stated at a committee meeting that the total increase will come in at 1.6 cents on the local purpose tax rate, which would bring it to 21.1 cents per $ 100 of assessed value. For an average priced house in Upper Township costing about $300,000, the tax bill would be $633 for 2020.
These numbers do not include additional school and county taxes, and municipal representatives stressed that the budget is far from being in a final form. After its introduction, the budget will be shared with the general public and will be subject to a final vote, which is anticipated for an April meeting.
Before the meeting, committee members held a third budget workshop to examine where possible cuts could be made to municipal department financing requests. While these potential decreases could result in a change to the proposed tax rate, they are required to bring the budget in under state caps on spending increases.
Committee member John Coggins, who heads revenue and finance, stated that the township needs to find $130,000 to bring Upper’s budget in line with state spending guidelines.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.