Average tax bill will rise $180 if budget passes after public hearing Monday.
By: Audrey Levine
The Borough Council will hold a special meeting and public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday before voting on the 2007 municipal budget, which will see a 6-cent increase following the borough’s receipt of final state aid figures.
The meeting follows a special meeting held this week amending the $13 million budget introduced in March to include $250,000 in state aid.
Consequently, the municipal tax rate is expected to only have a 6-cent increase, translating to a $180 rise in the property-tax bill for the owner of a property assessed at the borough average of $300,000, from $1,590 to $1,770.
According to Borough Administrator Gary Garwacke, the tax rate will rise from 53 cents to 59 cents.
The budget increases borough spending by $600,000 or 4.8 percent over last year’s final $12.5 million budget.
According to Mr. Garwacke, the increase in spending this year is due to salary increases and $250,000 in flood costs related to the April 16 nor’easter.
In addition, he said, the state requires that all municipalities with their own library pay a library appropriation fee, which increased by $50,000 this year.
The borough received $250,000 in state aid for 2007, an increase of $50,000 from 2006.
"The state gives us aid and they want us to reduce taxes," he said.
Once residents receive their tax bills, Mr. Garwacke said, they will have a 30-day grace period from the date of receipt to pay.
"The bills are usually supposed to go out before Aug. 1," he said. "Delays of state aid pushed that back. They will be due in late September."
The council will hold a public hearing and vote for the amended budget at 6 p.m. Monday at the municipal building on North Main Street before the regular Borough Council meeting.

