By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
WEST AMWELL — The Township Committee approved the 2011 budget of nearly $3.16 million, providing non-union employees a 2-percent raise and restoring stipends for the three-man committee.
Non-union employees have been working at 2008 rates since the recession and high legal fees put the township in a financial bind for the past few years.
Clerk Lora Olsen said the funds are in the budget for the pay increase, but a formal resolution or ordinance must be approved before an increase can go into effect.
Committeemen did not take a salary last year. In 2011, their combined salaries will be slightly more than $9,000. The committee approved the budget 2-1. Zachary Rich voted against it, while Mayor Thomas Molnar and George Fisher voted in favor.
The average taxpayer will see a small increase in the property tax to support municipal services.
The rate will be 22.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, up from 21.8 cents.
The owner of a house assessed at the township average of $456,213 will pay about $1,017.
Last year, when the average assessment was $455,845, the average homeowner paid $1,011.
Only two residents spoke against the spending plan May 25 and urged officials not to increase the tax levy. They argued against a 2-percent increase for the township because the committee had cut spending at the local elementary school. Also, along with Stockton and Lambertville, the committee also had cut South Hunterdon Regional High School’s budget by more than $117,000 after the spending plan failed at the polls.
The state gives municipal governing bodies the task of reviewing school budgets when voters shoot them down.
Mayor Molnar pointed out that the majority of voters said no to South Hunterdon’s proposed 2011-12 budget. In fact, voters shot it down for the fourth consecutive year.
The mayor also said the committee had held budget meetings for months before approving the township’s spending plan, and the committee received no citizen input during those public budget meetings.
In addition to committeemen’s stipends and employees’ raises, the township will return to its custom of contributing $23,000 to the local fire company. Last year, the contribution was $10,000.
