By Mary Brienza, Staff Writer
The Township Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to introduce a tentative 2011 budget to comply with state guidelines.
The $46.5 million proposed spending plan will still be worked on before it is finalized by the council.
”This is in no way finalized,” Mayor Frank Gambatese said. “We have a long way to go.”
Mr. Gambatese said after the March 8 meeting there may be 10 township employees laid off, but the council will try to cut services instead of people.
Before the regular Tuesday night council meeting, there was a special budget meeting with the department of public works to see if there could be any further cuts in the department.
This meeting was part of a series of scheduled Tuesday and Saturday public meetings to see if any cuts can be made in each department that will continue as the council reviews Manager Matt Watkins proposed $46.5 million budget, officials said.
The council had to introduce the budget at Tuesday’s meeting to meet the timeline, but there are many things to go over before it is finalized, township officials said.
Township spokesman Ron Schmalz said last week that the budget proposes an 8-cent increase in the tax rate that would amount to about $160 more in property taxes for the owner of an average township home valued at $190,000.
Mr. Watkins said during his presentation that the increase was due to increases in the town’s mandated pension contribution of about $700,000 and a 16 percent increase in premiums for employee benefits, as well as a 4 percent drop in the value of the township’s tax base due to successful tax appeals.
Mr. Watkins said the recession also caused the township to experience the lowest commercial growth in 25 years.

