Politics & Government

Tentative Township Budget Proposes $112 Tax Increase on Average Home

Several police positions would not be filled.

A tentative version of the township's 2010 budget would contain, on average, a $112 tax increase for residents.

Township Administrator Thomas Ciccarone said at a Township Committee meeting Thursday that a person living in a home assessed at $700,000 would pay $112 extra in taxes next year if the budget passes in its current form.

The total tentative budget is $13.5 million, but the township will receive nearly $4 million of that from grants and other revenue sources. As a whole, the township will collect $9.4 million in property taxes from resident—an amount that represents a nearly 7 percent tax levy increase from last year.

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Technically, municipalities are only allowed to increase that tax levy by 4 percent, but if other requirements are met—if there is a health insurance increase, for example—the taxes can be increased by even more.

Councilman William O'Connor wondered aloud how the township "wound up with a budget that's increased by over 6 percent." Ciccarone said various state requirements helped contribute to the increase.

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The state also cut its aid to the township by 22.4 percent this year, and Ciccarone said he was considering several ways to make up for the lost revenue. He recommended not filling two police department positions that will be open this year, and said the municipality has reduced the amount of money it will pay someone for its currently vacant clerk position.

The township is also planning to use nearly $1.9 million in surplus funds to help it get through the year. If state aid to municipalities continues to dry up, Ciccarone said, the township will be forced to continue spending that extra money. State aid figures are not expected to increase in 2011.

"If it continues trending the way it goes you just won't have any surplus to speak of," Ciccarone said.

He noted that the state is trying to get municipalities to work to share services.

The township budget will be introduced for committee adoption at the committee's April 8 meeting.


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