Council explores ways to cut taxes
By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
Three resolutions regarding revaluation were passed by Princeton Borough Council Tuesday night after several hours of lengthy discussion.
The most significant resolution was to create a revaluation study commission of citizens within the community to assess the criterion, methodology and results of the recent revaluation that took place in the borough.
The commission will also look into the options for mitigating the effects of the revaluation.
No more than seven members will be appointed to the commission with one alternate. The borough administrator or his designee will be a non-voting member and serve in an advisory capacity as a liaison to the governing body. Neal Snyder, the borough tax assessor, will be available as an informational resource for the group, which will hold its first meeting no later than Dec. 1. A report will be issued no later than March 1, 2011.
A copy of the resolution will be sent to Princeton Township to invite its participation.
The other resolutions involve looking into additional shared services not already under study by the Joint Shared Services and Consolidation Commission and the renegotiation of Princeton University’s payment in lieu of taxes or PILOT. The current PILOT agreement expires at the end of 2011.
The shared services resolution urges the borough to look beyond its immediate neighbor of Princeton Township for potential partners. Departments that would be under consideration for sharing services would be smaller budget departments such as municipal court, fire inspections, police dispatch and zoning enforcement, among others.
”I think exploring shared services is a reasonable way to address some of the tax issues we face today,” said Councilman Roger Martindell, who wrote and introduced the three measures. “It’s not going to solve all problems for all people, but it is a reasonable step to take.”
Montgomery was specifically added to the list of towns to explore for sharing services. “We’ve always looked to Princeton Township first as our most logical partner in any shared service,” said Councilman Andrew Koontz. “But there are other municipalities.”
While the council agreed the township will not consider sharing any additional services while studies of possible consolidation are underway, township resident Kip Cherry urged otherwise.
”We’re all in it together, we can’t be dividing up this baby and running off with it, it won’t survive,” she said, pointing out that Princeton Borough and Township are intertwined with one downtown and the fact that the borough is a donut town. “I don’t think it’s a matter of money, I think we’ll get better service.”

