West Windsor council to reduce tax increase

A 1-cent hike is now at hand

By: Nick Norlen
   WEST WINDSOR — Barring any revisions, West Windsor Township Council will introduce a budget Monday necessitating a 1-cent tax increase — a reduction from initial plans for twice that amount.
   At their March 12 budget workshop, members of council agreed with a recommendation by Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh to use a portion of the township’s surplus to reduce the 2007 tax rate to 28 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, down from a planned 29 cents.
   Mayor Hsueh said the move would alleviate the burden on taxpayers who will have to deal with increases planned by Mercer County and the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District.
   The budget currently proposed by the township totals approximately $32,830,000 — an increase of about 4.6 percent from last year.
   Township Chief Financial Officer Joanne Louth said approximately $4.2 million — rather than the $3.5 million originally planned — will be taken from the surplus to reduce the tax rate.
   At the meeting, Ms. Louth suggested that council use operating budget cuts made during the workshop — most notably in funding budgeted for overtime — to lower the amount of surplus used by $44,000.
   Earlier, the council had agreed to reduce overtime costs proposed for 2007 from $571,000 to $500,000.
   Noting that the township used approximately $462,500 to cover overtime in 2006, councilman Charles Morgan said the reduced amount would result in a "healthy" effort by township staff to manage with the amount given.
   Mayor Hsueh said approximately $1.8 million will remain in the township’s surplus reserve, and said the allocation "will not adversely impact the level of services provided to our residents."
   The $4.2 million is part of nearly $15.2 million in non-tax revenue, which includes funding from grants, fees, interest and other sources.
   Ms. Louth said the amount to be raised by taxation totals $17,666,000 — an increase of $460,000 from 2006.
   Among the significant capital budget costs planned for 2007 are $500,000 each for annual road improvements and the Duck Pond Park improvement project.
   In addition, $350,000 is budgeted for improvements to the former Princeton Junction firehouse, and $300,000 is allocated for improvements to the township senior center, bringing it’s three-year funding to $1.5 million.
   Council also doubled proposed funding for sidewalk extensions and improvements to $200,000.
   Councilman Franc Gambatese recommended the additional funding.
   "You can’t build safety fast enough," he said. "We want to get people walking. We want to get neighborhoods connected."
   Councilman Will Anklowitz said he perceived public support for the added funding, including from the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance.
   "There’s a chorus out there behind that," he said.
   The council will formally introduce the budget at their meeting March 19 at 7 p.m.