By John Tredrea, Special Writer
A 2012 Hopewell Township budget that will bring a 1.5 cent tax-rate increase, was adopted by a 4-0 vote Monday night.
Voting in favor of the spending plan were Mayor Michael Markulec, Deputy Mayor Jim Burd and committee members, Allen Cannon and Kim Johnson. Vanessa Sandom was absent.
Township Chief Financial Officer Elaine Cruikshank Borges said almost a full cent of the tax-rate increase is due to decreased property valuations in the township.
The budget totals $20,089,338, down $514,000 from last year. The fact that the budget’s bottom line has gone down while tax the rate is going up also reflects the declining property valuations, Ms. Borges said.
Ms. Borges said there are no major changes in staffing or services in this year’s spending plan.
The 1.5-cent tax-rate increase per $100 of assessed property value will bring the municipal tax rate in Hopewell Township to 30 cents. For a township home assessed at $500,000, that means a 2012 municipal tax bill of $1,500, an increase of $75 over last year.
Property tax bills include school taxes, county taxes and fire district taxes as well as municipal taxes.
