Politics & Government

State Aid Stays About the Same for Chathams

Aid to Chatham Township and Chatham Borough remains flat.

State aid numbers showed little change for the Chathams from last year, when both towns in their aid from Trenton.

Chatham Township's state aid remained the same between what was certified in 2010 and what is proposed in 2011. The original amout proposed in 2010 decreased by $16 between when the numbers were announced last year and when the funds were certified.

State aid to Chatham Borough will also remain flat. However, according to Bob Falzarano, the borough's administrator, $2,303 for watershed aid that was given to the borough last year separately from the regular state aid was included this year.

Find out what's happening in Chathamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Mayor Nelson Vaughan of Chatham Borough said the increase to the borough was welcome news. "The economy being what it is, and the state having the financial difficulty that it does, it's a great thing."

He said that the news should also help the borough budget to pass smoothly.

Find out what's happening in Chathamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bob Falzarano, the administrator of Chatham Borough, said Thursday morning that the borough should be "okay" without any loss in state aid but said he would save further comment until he had a chance to review the numbers more thoroughly.

Township Mayor Nicole Hagner said she had not seen the numbers for state aid yet and would reserve comment until later in the day Thursday. Former Mayor Kevin Tubbs said that the numbers were in line with what the town had been told to expect from the state.

"We're going to have the same issues that other communities have going forward, with pensions and health care, but we are prepared for this year," Tubbs said.

Township Administrator Tom Ciccarone said before the amounts for state aid to municipalities were released that if the township's aid stayed flat, property taxes would not increase by more than Gov. Chris Christie's 2 percent cap.

Ciccarone will give a presentation on the township's budget at the Chatham Township Committee meeting Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

In 2009, the township received $1,077,414 in aid, compared to $836,483 in 2010. This year, it will receive $836,467.

Chatham Borough received $746,649 in 2009 and $569,796 in 2010 in state aid. This year, it will receive $572,099.

Town State Aid in 2009 State Aid Certified in 2010 State Aid in 2011 Difference between 2010 and 2011 Chatham Borough $746,649 $569,796 $572,099 +$2,303* Chatham Township. $1,077,414 $836,467** $836,467 $0

*This increase represents an awarding of Watershed Aid, which was given separately from state aid in 2010. In 2011 it was included in the general state aid and therefore represents no actual change from 2010.

**The original amount proposed to Chatham Township in 2010 was $836,483. Between when aid was announced and when it was certified in 2010, the aid decreased by $16.

 

Editor's note: This article has been edited to note that state aid for Chatham Township in 2010 was proposed at $836,483 but was certified at $836,467, a difference of $16. The original version of this article reported that the township received $836,483 in state aid in 2010. Chatham Patch apologizes for the error.


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