State aid will lessen
tax bite in Sayreville
BY JOHN DUNPHY
Staff Writer
SAYREVILLE — A municipal tax hike is in store for borough residents, but it will be lower than was first anticipated.
The Borough Council adopted a resolution at a special meeting Monday that will ultimately increase the municipal tax rate by 4 cents. The hike is 3 cents lower than the originally proposed 7-cent rise, according to the borough’s chief financial officer, Wayne Kronowski.
The increase will amount to paying $55 more per year in municipal taxes on the average home, assessed at $139,500 in Sayreville. Municipal taxes are just one portion of a homeowner’s property tax bill, which also includes school, county and fire district taxes.
Through efforts by state Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-19th District), Sayreville was able to secure $200,000 in extraordinary aid from the state Department of Community Affairs.
"Sayreville residents need every advantage in the fight against upwardly spiraling property taxes," Wisniewski said.
Sayreville had originally been slated to receive only $100,000 in extraordinary aid, but Wisniewski appealed directly to DCA Commissioner Susan Bass Levin for added funds, according to a news release from Wisniewski’s office.
"The fact the assemblyman forced hard to get the money, I want to thank him," said Council President Thomas Pollando.
The borough will also receive $140,000 in homeland security and police aid. The Municipal Homeland Security Police Assistance Aid program was created to help local authorities offset the costs of providing enhanced homeland security.
The $340,000 in total state aid represents a little more than 1.5 cents on the tax rate, according to Kronowski. The remaining 1.5-cent decrease from the originally proposed tax hike is accounted for through the use of reserved borough surplus.
"We did a good job in keeping the increase as low as possible," Pollando said, referring collectively to efforts by Kronowski, Wisniewski, council members, Mayor Kennedy O’Brien and Business Administrator Jeff Bertrand.
The borough will present the final budget at the next public meeting, scheduled for Aug. 9 at borough hall.