Borough Council approves 2007 spending plan

Includes a 10.79 percent tax hike

By: Bill Greenwood
      JAMESBURG – The Borough Council approved its 2007 budget Wednesday.
      The $5.35 million tab includes a 10.79 percent tax hike. The tax rate will increase 11.9 cents to $1.222 per $100 of assessed valuation. At that rate, the owner of a house assessed at the borough average of $124,000 will pay $1,515 in municipal taxes, $147 more than last year.
      The approved budget also will increase the tax levy – or the total amount to be raised by taxes – by $299,822, or 11.33 percent, to $2.95 million.
      An originally proposed tax-rate increase of 11.3 percent was reduced when the borough received $100,000 in extraordinary aid from the state. However, that amount is $225,000 less than the borough requested and $150,000 less than it received in 2006.
      The budget was amended Wednesday to include a $110,000 contamination settlement with SERV Centers of New Jersey. The budget also will decrease the amount of money originally proposed for capital improvements by $50,000, to $100,000. The new number is $90,000 less than in 2006.
      Under the budget, police salaries and wages will increase by $62,000 to $1.42 million, contributions to the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System will increase by $56,024 to $150,542, and contributions to the Public Employees’ Retirement System will increase by $12,830 to $28,830. In addition, a state mandate means library expenses will increase by $24,822 to $170,472.
      The borough will pay $225,309 in debt service, $31,798 less than in 2006.