Hopewell Township introduces spending proposal

If approved, the budget would raise the municipal property tax rate by 5 cents to 30 cents per $100 of assessed property value.

By John Tredrea
   The municipal tax rate in Hopewell Township would increase 20 percent if the draft $15,046,182 township budget introduced last week is enacted next month.
   The full Township Committee unanimously introduced the proposed spending plan at its April 10 meeting. If approved, the budget would raise the municipal property tax rate by 5 cents to 30 cents per $100 of assessed property value. For the owner of a house assessed at $267,000 (the township average) the increase would mean a municipal tax bill of $801, an increase of $133.50.
   A public hearing and adoption vote on the budget is scheduled for May 15 at 7 p.m. in the municipal building.
   When the committee voted to introduce the budget, Committeewoman Arlene Kemp said she thought the budget needed to be cut further. She said she was only voting to introduce it "so the public can have a chance to discuss it."
   Under state law, a municipal government must hold a public hearing on an introduced budget before casting an adoption vote on it.
   No layoffs of municipal employees are called for under the proposed budget. The 2003 spending plan is up $1,344,812, or 9.8 percent, from last year.
   Major factors behind the spending increase are health insurance costs, legal costs and salary and wage increases, said Hopewell Township Administrator Christine Smeltzer. She said health insurance is costing the township $200,000 more this year than last year. Legal costs are up $120,000, she said. The township is defending, in state court, the recent controversial downzoning of about three-fourths of the 58-square mile township.
   "The salary and wage budget is up $591,513, or 10.9 percent, compared to the 2002 budget," Ms. Smeltzer said. "This is due to filling four positions in public works, one vacancy in police, reinstating the position of police captain and hiring two new patrol officers and an assistant township administrator during 2002. Salaries for these new employees have been budgeted for a full year in the 2003 budget. Additionally, salaries for patrol officers, detectives, sergeants, dispatchers and most public works employees are set by contract and have been budgeted for."
   Ms. Smeltzer added that a hiring freeze is in force in the township. "We’re also allowing some vacant positions to go unfilled," she said.
   Ms. Smeltzer and Mayor Fran Bartlett said that, because of the sharp drop in interest rates, the township has seen a significant decline in how much it is earning on its investments.
   "It’s important to note that our budget is in part shaped by forces outside the township," the mayor said. "Our area has been affected by Sept. 11. The regional economy is down."