Officials cut $45,000 from the $90,000 cost of replacing the stadium bleachers in response to voter rejection of the budget.
By: Linda Seida
Homeowners in Lambertville, Stockton Borough and West Amwell Township all will pay more in taxes, thanks to South Hunterdon Regional High School’s revised 2003 budget approved by municipal officials May 13.
The budget total is $6,873,591, down from a proposed total of $6.9 million that was defeated in the April election. The tax levy, or the portion paid by residents’ taxes, will be $5,972,329.
In Lambertville, the owner of a house assessed at the average of $211,515 will pay $72 more than in 2002, for a total of $1,775 The school tax rate, however, will decrease from 96.125 cents per $100 in assessed value in 2002 to 83.938 cents in 2003. The city’s average assessment in 2002 was $177,256.
In Stockton, the owner of a house assessed at the average of $165,743 will pay $146 more than last year, for a total of $1,297 The tax rate will rise to 78.277 cents per $100 in 2003 from 69.469 cents in 2002.
In West Amwell, the owner of a house assessed at the average of $344,576 will pay $42.95 more, for a total of $2,063. The tax rate will be 59.877 cents per $100 in assessed value, down from 68.061 cents in 2002 when the average assessment was $296,834.
After voters shot down the proposed budget in April, the budget process then moved into the hands of municipal officials from the three sending districts, who had the option of passing the budget with no cuts or requesting a specific amount be cut from the total. They approved a cut of $45,000 during a joint meeting with the Board of Education.
The cost to replace unsafe and deteriorating stadium bleachers had been put in the budget at the total cost of $90,000. Officials decided to spread that cost out over two years.

