Committee adopts $23.3 million budget.
By: Paul Sisolak
MONTGOMERY The Township Committee adopted a $23.3 million budget Thursday that sets the municipal tax rate at 27 cents per $100 of assessed valuation 4 cents lower than last year’s 31-cent tax rate.
But over the last year, the average assessed value of a Montgomery home has increased over $45,000, to $436,300, which will nearly wipe out the benefit of the lower tax rate. This year’s tax on the average home will be $1,151, about $31 less than last year.
Mayor Louise Wilson called it a "prudent, conservative budget" and said the committee worked hard to make the budget tax-neutral.
"This township, fiscally speaking, is in very good shape," she said.
Last year’s budget of $27.1 million was perceived as an anomaly because the township received $4.5 million in extra revenue from the sale of property on Montgomery Road to developer Presbyterian Homes. The 2003 municipal budget shows a decline in revenues from previous years. A $22 million budget was carried in 2001 and $19.5 million in 2000.
Ms. Wilson said increased township-provided services, such as leaf pickup, partially account for the steady budget increase.
"There are costs that rise rapidly from one year to the next," she said.
Ongoing road projects, as well as plans for a new community and senior center at the former Truetech building on Skillman Road, also contributed to the 2003 budget numbers.
"The township is growing the services need to reflect that," said Committeeman Mark Caliguire.
Mr. Caliguire, who did not join the committee until after much of the budget discussions were completed, abstained from voting.
Through the course of this year’s budget deliberations, the township was faced with a state-imposed 1-percent budget cap. The committee adopted an ordinance raising the cap limit to 5 percent before the budget’s introduction last month.
In other action Thursday, the committee approved a resolution not to certify $1.8 million in costs towards an all-weather sports facility geared for the new Montgomery High School.
The proposal was presented to voters at the April 15 Board of Education elections as a second ballot question and was rejected.
While the board had no intention of petitioning the Township Committee for funding, other avenues and alternatives will still be sought to construct the facility, Superintendent of Schools Stuart Schnur said after the elections.
The facility called for an artificial turf playing field, bleachers, lights and a press box.

