With 4.8 percent hike, council OKs budget

The 2006 municipal budget carries a property tax rate of 65 cents per $100 of assessed value – a 3-cent increase over the 2005 tax rate of 62 cents.

      
By:Lea Kahn Staff Writer
   Township Council gave final approval to the 2006 municipal budget , which carries a 4.8 percent tax-rate increase in a split vote, following a brief public hearing on the $37.3 million spending plan Tuesday night.
   Mayor Michael Powers and Council members Mark Holmes, Pam Mount and Greg Puliti — all Democrats — voted to approve the budget. Township Councilman Rick Miller, a Republican, cast the lone "no" vote.
   The 2006 municipal budget carries a property tax rate of 65 cents per $100 of assessed value — a 3-cent increase over the 2005 tax rate of 62 cents.
   This means the owner of a house assessed at the township average of $164,117 would pay $1,067 in municipal taxes for 2006 — a $49 increase over last year’s tax bill of $1,018.
   The 2006 budget increased by $2.6 million over the 2005 municipal spending plan of $34.8 million. Increases in the cost of group health insurance, pensions, trash collection, utilities, salaries and the reserve for uncollected taxes accounted for the budget increase, Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun said.
   The reserve fund for uncollected taxes is required by state law. The township collects property taxes for the school district and the county, as well as for itself. The reserve for uncollected taxes is intended to cover the amount of money that the township must turn over to the school district and the county, regardless of the tax collection rate. The actual collection rate in Lawrence last year was 98 percent.
   Mr. Miller said he voted against the budget because of the addition of three new jobs — a mechanic and laborer in the Department of Public Works, and a deputy director of emergency management.
   The deputy director of emergency management would earn between $43,000 and $53,000, the mechanic would earn $33,361 and the laborer would be paid $27,729, Mr. Krawczun said when the budget was presented to Township Council earlier this year.
   Mr. Miller said he believed that existing staff could handle the additional responsibilities, rather than create new positions and hire additional staff.
   The deputy director of emergency management would be a civilian employee who would perform some duties that are currently handled by a police officer, freeing that officer for other duties that could only be performed by a sworn police officer, Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun said.
   Other duties for the deputy director could include conducting crime prevention seminars and fire inspections, Mr. Krawczun said. The township Fire Prevention Bureau inspects multiple dwellings, such as the dormitories at Rider University, and the Brookshire senior citizens rental complex on Darrah Lane.
   The budget also includes an additional sergeant in the Police Department, but not an overall increase in the number of police officers. There are presently nine police sergeants.
   Mayor Powers said no one likes to see a tax rate increase, but state aid is flat and "we need to do more with less." He praised Mr. Krawczun’s efforts to prepare the 2006 budget.
   Mr. Puliti also thanked Mr. Krawczun for a "fine budget." The manager kept the tax rate increase at a minimum and also made sure that the budget addressed residents’ needs, the councilman added.
   Ms. Mount said "it takes a lot of work" to prepare a budget that contains only a 3-cent tax rate increase. The residents are satisfied because they are getting "good services" from township employees, she added.
   Mr. Holmes did not comment on the budget.