Stockton introduces $416,000 budget

The tax rate would increase from 42.9 cents to 46.5 cents, meaning the owner of the averaged assessed value of $196,000 would pay $70.56 more per year.

By: Linda Seida
   STOCKTON — The average homeowner would pay an additional $70.56 in municipal taxes this year if the proposed $416,000 budget introduced Monday wins final approval.
   The average assessment in the borough is $196,000.
   The tax rate of 42.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation would rise to 46.5 cents. The increase over last year’s budget of $404,519 stems from a small rise in salaries, from $57,315 to $60,581. The borough’s operating expenses also rose, going from $171,475 to $175,900. In addition, the capital improvement fund will rise $3,000 to $10,000.
   Introduction of the proposed budget came down to a tiebreaker. Councilmen Joseph Skillodge, Christopher Smith and Stephen Giocondo voted against introducing the proposed budget. Councilwoman Constance Bassett and Councilman Neal Esposito voted in favor as did council President Andrew Giannattasio, who also chairs the Finance Committee.
   Because of the tie, Mayor Gregg Rackin cast the deciding vote in favor. He called the proposed budget "fiscally responsible."
   The dissenting members of council, however, wanted to see more money earmarked for Mill Street, especially for a section in front of the firehouse. There, during heavy rains, water doesn’t simply collect; the area turns into "a lake," according to Mr. Giocondo.
   "It’s a quality of life issue and a safety issue," he said.
   But the money simply isn’t in the budget for that kind of expensive repair, according to Mr. Giannattasio. He suggested formulating a plan for the repairs this year and possibly putting them in next year’s budget.
   In recent months, borough officials have said one or two such large projects per year are a lot for the small borough to handle.
   "A tremendous expense goes into infrastructure," Mayor Rackin said.
   Still, Mr. Giocondo hoped to somehow rearrange the budget figures so funds might be available to aid residents dealing with the watery woes on Mill Street.
   Mayor Rackin suggested looking into grants and other sources to fund the necessary repairs. He also suggested the possibility of holding a public hearing to enable council members to hear firsthand the needs of "competing interests" in the borough and to weigh them.
   "I don’t mean to quibble, honestly," Mr. Giocondo said. "It’s not a competing interesting. These people have suffered for years."
   He suggested fixing one of the worst parts of the street, in front of the firehouse, to provide some relief.
   Fixing one part now but the rest later would add to the expense in the long run, others argued. Also, if the borough fixes one part of the street and not another, "You’re going to have an uprising there," Mr. Esposito said.
   Mr. Esposito agreed the work on Mill Street is necessary.
   "It should be done," he said. "It will be done. It’s just a matter of when."
   A plan for repairs for the street, put together two years ago, estimated the cost could be about $15,000, according to Water and Sewer Supervisor Robert Ent.