By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR — Residents here will probably see an increase in tax bills this coming year, after administration officials proposed a $35.4 million municipal budget earlier this week that would mean an extra $198 in taxes for the average homeowner.
The main culprits behind the proposed tax hike are rising municipal costs coupled with a state budget that called for cuts in state aid to municipalities that cost West Windsor Township $240,411.
In terms of the municipal tax bill, the average homeowner with a residence assessed at the township average of $556,973 would see the bill jump from $1,560 to $1,758 under the proposed budget.
That equals a 3.5-cent increase in the municipal tax rate, taking last year’s rate from 28 cents per $100 of assessed value to 31.57 cents per $100, according to Joanne Louth, the township’s chief financial officer.
A cut in services the municipal government provides to residents could have canceled out the increase, but township officials said they decided against such a move.
”This budget will maintain the current level of services in West Windsor,” said Business Administrator Christopher Marion.
The proposed 2008 budget is $2,614,000 more than last year’s, and includes an infusion of $4,200,000 of municipal surplus used to stabilize the tax rate.
Mr. Marion said the township has $3,373,012 in surplus for stabilizing the budgets of 2009 and 2010.
Township officials said the following categories had the largest increases requiring additional funds:Salaries and wages are set to increase by $612,984; debt service would increase by $502,153; township payments into the police and firefighters retirement system would increase by $383,949; insurance would increase $355,000; the retirement funds for other municipal employees would increase $144,250; payments for the Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority would go up $126,438; and surging gasoline costs require an increase of $55,000.
Much of the increase has to do with contractual and state-mandated costs, Mr. Marion said.
The proposed budget has been delivered to Township Council members, who have already begun interviewing officials from municipal departments.
Township Council will be holding public budget sessions 8 p.m. March 18 and 7 p.m. April 3.
Following those deliberations, Township Council is looking to introduce the budget at its regular meeting at 7 p.m. April 21.
The budget is scheduled for final adoption at the regular May 19 Township Council meeting, officials said.
