By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
STOCKTON — In this day and age, taxpayers would be forgiven easily if they thought the cost of everything, everywhere, is going up, but that’s not true, at least not in Stockton this year.
The cost of government services actually would go down if the Borough Council approves the budget of $622,442 that was recently introduced. That’s almost $13,000 less than last year’s budget of $635,361.
The tax levy, the portion of the budget paid for by taxpayers, would be below the state-imposed 2-percent cap by $356.18.
The proposed tax levy is $315,125. Last year, the tax levy was nearly $5,800 more, for a total of $320,915.
The average homeowner would pay about $17 less in property taxes to support government services if the council approves the budget May 9. That evening, residents will be able to comment or ask questions during a public hearing that is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Borough Hall, 2 S. Main St.
”It really does show a very dedicated effort on behalf of the governing body to keep taxes as low as they can,” said Administrator and Clerk Michele Hovan.
The budget is “maintaining the status quo for 2011,” Ms. Hovan said. “It’s just pretty much a mirror image of last year’s budget, adjusted here and there. Our major expenses haven’t drastically changed.”
A few of the things that led to a lower budget this year include the pay down of emergency appropriations that were on the books for about four years, she said.
Debt payment for previous sewer upgrades is lower also.
There have been no salary increases proposed for any of the borough’s employees, who work part-time, Ms. Hovan said.
The borough has about 24 part-timers, and these include a crossing guard, the court clerk and a municipal judge. The last two are shared in a court with East Amwell and Delaware townships.
The budget includes improvements to Old Prallsville Road, made possible by the receipt of a state grant of almost $157,000. “This is the big project for us this year,” Ms. Hovan said. “This will be a significant improvement, not just paving but drainage improvements as well.”
Last year’s budget paid for Woolverton Road improvements.
”This puts us in pretty good condition to keep pace with our road and infrastructure needs,” Ms. Hovan said.
The proposed tax rate would be 33.4 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a house assessed at the borough average of $373,504 would pay $1,254 to support the 2011 budget.
Last year, when the tax rate was 33.8 cents and the average assessment was $375,964, the average homeowner paid almost $1,271.

