The Hopewell Township Committee is set to vote tonight on a $13.7 million municipal budget that would boost the tax rate by 1 cent to 24 cents per $100 assessed property value
By: John Tredrea
The Hopewell Township Committee is set to vote tonight on a $13.7 million municipal budget that would boost the tax rate by 1 cent to 24 cents per $100 assessed property value.
As required by state law, a public hearing will held on the proposed 2002 budget before the adoption vote is cast.
The Township Committee voted unanimously to introduce the budget March 4, when Mayor Jon Edwards and committee members promised a comprehensive presentation on the budget before the adoption vote.
The proposed budget is down $560,000, or 4 percent, from last year’s $14,252,000 budget. If it is adopted as expected tonight (Thursday), the owner of a township home assessed at $200,000 would see his or her annual municipal taxes rise from $460 to $480.
During the March 7 committee meeting, Township Administrator Christine Smeltzer and Chief Financial Officer Elaine Cruikshank-Borges discussed with the committee the need for a tax increase when the proposed budget is down by more than $500,000 from last year’s budget.
"Our revenues are less" than they were in 2001, Ms. Smeltzer said. State grants to the township are down and, because of lower interest rates that are part of the general economic downturn, the township is making less on its investments.
Among the grants the township got last year that it will not get this year are Clean Communities ($41,000), a Buckle-Up grant ($13,000) for programs to encourage use of seat belts by motorists, and grants applied toward salaries of police officers. The salaries of four officers were covered in part by those grants last year. Two salaries will be covered this year.
Insurance costs to the township are up substantially, Ms. Smeltzer said. Health insurance in the proposed 2002 budget is up 24 percent from last year. She added that, since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, insurance on township property and for workmen’s compensation claims by police and fire personnel also are up substantially. Municipal salaries are up $220,000, or 4 percent overall from last year, she said.
"Our debt service costs are down," Ms. Smeltzer added. "Many of our debts are old, so the payments are going down."
Since the Township Committee introduced its budget, the school board has voted in favor of a budget and separate ballot question that, if approved by voters April 16, would bring a 1-cent drop in the school tax rate in the township.
re personnel also are up substantially. Municipal salaries are up $220,000, or 4 percent overall from last year, she said.
"Our debt service costs are down," Ms. Smeltzer added. "Many of our debts are old, so the payments are going down."
Since the Township Committee introduced its budget, the school board has voted in favor of a budget and separate ballot question that, if approved by voters April 16, would bring a 1-cent drop in the school tax rate in the township.