East Windsor Township Council introduces garbage budget which includes a tax increase of four-tenths of a cent.
By: Marisa Maldonado
EAST WINDSOR The Township Council last week introduced its $1.7 million garbage budget, which includes a small tax increase.
The budget, which encompasses garbage and recycling services for fewer than half of the township’s homes, includes a tax increase of four-tenths of a cent, to 17.9 cents per $100 of assessed home value. A homeowner whose property is assessed at $130,000 will pay $233 in garbage taxes, a $5 increase from last year.
The budget was introduced at the Township Council’s May 3 meeting.
An increase in tipping fees paid to Mercer County for the removal of solid waste accounted for more than half of the tax increase, Mayor Janice Mironov said. Salaries and fuel costs accounted for most of the other increases, the mayor said.
"Most of the costs were flat," Mayor Mironov said.
People who live in private developments such as Twin Rivers, apartment complexes or businesses do not have to pay garbage taxes because they receive the services privately, the mayor said. The garbage budget is separate from the general budget so residents who do not use the services do not have to pay for them, the mayor said.
The public hearing for the budget will be held at the May 31 Township Council meeting, along with the hearing for the township’s $18.1 million general budget, also introduced at the May 2 meeting.
The general budget carries a 3.9-cent tax rate increase to 44.6 cents per $100 of assessed property value. The owner of a property assessed at $130,000 will pay $580 in municipal taxes, a $51 increase over last year.
The Township Council can pass both budgets May 31, the mayor said.
The township has sent both budgets to the state Department of Community Affairs for review. The township received an exemption from the review process because of its sound fiscal spending but chose to participate anyway, the mayor said.
"It’s good and useful to have another set of eyes go over and review our budget," Mayor Mironov said.