Municipal budget
focus of hearing
By jennifer dome
Staff Writer
SAYREVILLE — Borough residents will have a chance to voice their opinion on the proposed municipal budget during the public meeting scheduled for April 14.
The Borough Council will hold the public hearing at 7:30 p.m. in Borough Hall, Main Street.
The $37,833,129 package, which was increased by more than $950,000 over last year’s budget, carries a 4.5-cent tax rate increase for borough taxpayers. The 74-cent municipal tax rate means that the owner of property assessed at the borough average of $138,000 will pay approximately $62 more this year.
Borough Chief Financial Officer Wayne Kronowski told council members that the increase is largely due to an increase in insurance costs for the borough’s operations.
A full-time building inspector, a computer technician for all borough departments, and a part-time clerk for the police department will be hired under the proposed budget.
Also included in the proposed budget are 12 new police vehicles and four new police officers, although eight new officers were proposed to the council during initial discussions. Kronowski said that one of the new officers will replace a retiree, and a COPS in Schools grant will balance the cost of the other police officers.
Added to the proposed budget during final discussions were two additional employees for the department of public works. One employee will work with the road department, while the other joins the parks department, according to Kronowski.