Former mayor says U.F. should tighten its belt
Officials vote to adopt 2003 budget with 2-cent municipal tax increase
By jane meggitt
Staff Writer
UPPER FREEHOLD — A former elected official took the Township Committee to task for raising taxes in a tough economic environment.
At last week’s committee meeting, former Mayor Bob Abrams, who arrived late and missed the official public hearing on the budget, made statements about the already-approved budget during the public comment period at the end of the meeting.
Abrams said he was disappointed with the document and chastised the Township Committee for the 2-cent increase in the tax rate during difficult economic times.
"Incrementally, [the increase is] big. You could have tightened your belts," he said.
The township’s total budget is $5.8 million, up $1.045 million from last year’s budget. The tax levy is $1,043,970, an increase of $218,496. The tax rate is projected to rise from 18.7 cents to 20.7 cents per $100 of assessed property value.
Residents with a home assessed at $240,000 will pay an additional $48 a year under the municipal portion of their property tax bill.
In addition to the municipal rate increase, the Upper Freehold Regional School District (UFRSD) is projecting a double-digit increase in the school tax for the portion of its budget funded by township residents.
Budget figures released by UFRSD project a 13-cent increase in school taxes per $100 of assessed property value, bringing the school tax rate up to $2.06 per $100 of assessed property value. Township residents with a home assessed at $240,000 would pay an additional $312 a year, according to school officials.
The school budget will go before voters on Tuesday.
"The cost will be prohibitive to taxpayers. You can’t do it on a fixed income. The first people to leave [town] will be on a fixed income," Abrams said.
He added, "With the economic situation in the world right now, you could have set a good example by holding the line [on taxes]."
Mayor William Miscoski responded, "I’ve been on the Township Committee 10 years now, and how many times did we raise taxes in 10 years? If we raised it 3 cents, that’s a lot.
"Now, we’re bonding for roads, recreation. … The state mandated that we have a $30,000 animal-control vehicle. Our reserve isn’t as big as it was."
Abrams replied, "You’ve had $68 million in added assessment since I left [office]. Where is it? Where is the money from the Hovnanian properties?"
Miscoski said that 73 percent of funds were going to the schools, and, of the Hovnanian houses, about $500 per house comes to the municipality.
The mayor also said that the committee possibly could have held the increase down, but "down the road, we don’t want to have to go up 7 or 8 cents."
Abrams said that in his opinion, park operations, which are budgeted at $130,000, "could have been held back until better times."
Abrams told the committee, "We have lost control of the population in this township. You have done nothing to control growth in this township. You cannot do away with the school system. Youngsters cost $8,000 to $10,000 a year [to educate]."
He cited neighboring Millstone, which is considering changing its zoning law to make the minimum size of a building lot 10 acres in many areas of the township in order to control development.
"We’ve got to slow [growth] down by whatever means it takes. We’re being ransomed by the large landowners in this town.
"We will lose the rural character of this town," he warned.
Miscoski said, "The state is a reason why we pay so much that we shouldn’t have to pay. Do you know how many states do not have property taxes supporting the schools?"
A resolution adopting the 2003 municipal budget was passed at the meeting.