WILDWOOD CREST— The borough held the public hearing on its 2009 $19 million spending plan on April 22.
Only one resident commented on the commented on the budget, which is up about $355,000 compared to last year’s $18.6 million budget.
The increase is largely attributed to contractual increases in salaries and wages, which are up about $178,750, a 3.22 percent increase. Operating expenses are also up by $96,081, a 1.1 percent increase.
Despite the increases, the tax rate is expected to drop to 49.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. In 2008, the rate was 67 cents, but that was before the town’s revaluation.
The total amount taxpayers will hand over to the borough for 2009 comes to $11.4 mil-lion also up from 2008’s figure of $10.3 million.
The remainder of the budget is supported by state aid and surplus. Surplus applied this year is $1.275 million, which leaves the borough with $1.4 million in surplus for emergencies.
