Tax Decrease Approved in Chatham Township

Four members of the Chatham Township Committee unanimously approved the 2013 municipal budget, which calls for a reduced local tax levy that will cut the average taxpayer's bill by $25.50.

Mayor Nicole Hagner, Deputy Mayor Robert Gallop and Committee Members Kevin Sullivan and Bailey Brower, Jr. approved the budget. Committee Member Kathy Abbott was not present.

Administrator Tom Ciccarone said the only change to the budget since his last presentation on Feb. 28 was a detailed allocation of $175,000 in emergency appropriations. He said he forgot to include the detail of where the funds would go when he submitted the budget to the state, and that all committee members now had the updated form.

The budget passed without discussion or public comment.

The 2012 tax rate was 28.8 cents per $100 of assessed value in 2012, for a total average municipal tax of $2,152. If the committee votes to approve the budget as proposed, that amount will fall to 28.5 cents per $100.

For the average home assessed at $750,000, this would mean a tax decrease of $25.50.

The amount to be raised by taxes in 2013 will be $8,574,639.

In 2011 and 2012, the township kept local taxes flat, thanks in a large part to the same things that have allowed them to lower the tax levy in 2013: shared services, ratables within the township and consolidating positions.