HIGHTSTOWN: Council approves tax hike

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   HIGHTSTOWN — The Borough Council has unanimously approved a $6.6 million budget for 2012 which calls for a 1.58 percent tax levy upon homeowners at their meeting on Monday night.
   This equates to a .027-cent tax increase from last year per $100 of assessed property value for residents.
   The introduced tax rate for 2012 is .903 cents per $100 of assessed property.
   Last year, Hightstown Borough Council approved a flat tax rate of .876 cents per $100 of assessed property. The 2011 budget was only$6.3 million.
   The budget adopted will increase taxes for the average homeowner by $6 per month. The average Hightstown household, assessed for $266,798, would see a municipal tax bill of approximately $2,400, an increase of $72 annually from 2011.
   Mayor Steven Kirson attributed $7 million decrease due to tax appeals which led to a decrease in property value and the $43,642 for shared 911 services with Cranbury as factors which contributed to the majority of the 1.58 percent tax levy proposed in this year’s budget.
   ”There were some amendments made to the budget, but they had no effect on the tax rate,” said Mayor Kirson.
   A budget amendment, Resolution 2012-147, unanimously passed. The purpose was to address the paying down of an emergency authorization fund and to include three grants, according to Chief Financial Officer George Lang. Mr. Lang noted that they were doing it now so that in the future they wouldn’t need to do a resolution.
   ”The budget amendments, consisted of a pay down of $62,983 against an emergency authorization (for Hurricane Irene) funded by a portion of (Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund – known as JIF) receipts,” Mayor Kirson noted.
   ”This additional $62,000 that’s paid down against our debt that was authorized last year. This is funded from JIF cash receipts that they received (in the amount of) $366,000. We are taking $62,000 of that and applying it to the emergency authorization and the remaining part of it will go against Capital part of the emergency authorization,” said Mr. Lang.
   According to the budget report under revenues, receipts from delinquent taxes are down $100,000 from last year’s $350,000. Under Public and Private programs to offset revenue, the town has received three grants – Clean Communities Program for $7,397.69, Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund for $25,009.05 and JIF Safety Grant for $2,070.40 for a total of $34,477.14.
   ”What is the Clean Communities grant and what are the restrictions on that?” asked Robert Thibault, council member.
   Said Michael Theokas Borough Administrator, “It comes into our Public Works and is used for community clean-ups and supplies to go along with community clean-ups. Part of it goes to pay for the part-time salary of our Public Works employee who you see downtown. With $7,400, we stretch it thin.”
   Mr. Theokas later noted that they plan to hire a part-time employee for code enforcement. The Code Office also received a car donation from the Hightstown Engine Co. No. 1 to provide transportation around the borough now instead of using personal vehicles.
   ”As of today with the adoption of the budget, we’re hiring somebody,” said Mr. Theokas during a code enforcement update to the Borough Council.
   Additional changes for the 2012 budget compared to the 2011 are as follows: insurance is down $13,133 from the $615,247 last year; Public Works is up by $36,609 from $570,701 last year; Capital Improvements is up by $62,983 from the $5,000 allocated last year; and debt service is up $51,555 from $429,140 in 2011.
   The budget anticipates $503,000 in municipal aid for 2012 from the state — an amount that has remained the same since last year.
   ”Looks like there is close to a couple hundred thousand dollars of expenditures and revenues back and forth for shared services,” said resident Scott Castor of Hightstown during a public comment session on the budget.
   ”I also want to congratulate the mayor and council for especially assuring our town that we have our 911 shared with Cranbury,” Mr. Castor said.
   He suggested that they consider budgeting funds in case of lack of code enforcement, before passing the 2012 budget.
   ”I wish you would spend a little bit more money,” said Eugene Sarafin of Hightstown as he noted the government was lacking in personnel in various departments.
   When it came time to approve the budget, a few concerns were raised by some council members.
   ”The construction code is showing a decrease of 1.7 percent but code enforcement itself is down seven percent. Over the last three years, it’s down ten percent. Over the last ten years, it’s down 12 percent,” Councilman Thibault said.
   ”If there is one thing that we hear consistently at council meetings, that we hear at our monthly Saturday morning meetings and I hear consistently walking around town — and I heard it yesterday at the Paws Walk (is) the lack of code enforcement,” Mr. Thibault said.
   ”I think we need to find money in this budget for additional part-time inspectors so they can stay on top of the issues that are residents are complaining about and I think there is money in the budget,” Mr. Thibault said.
   He mentioned areas in the budget that could be cut or funds could be applied elsewhere to help address the issue of lack of code enforcement.
   ”There is money in that line anyway (as) we reduced the line down to $24,000. Last year we charged a little over $14,000 so there is money there already,” Mr. Lang said.
   ”I’m gonna hold my nose and vote for it,” Councilman Thibault said of the budget. “It’s not a good budget for the residents, there’s a tax increase in it, in a lot of ways reduction of services, and that continues (to be) a trend for as long as I have been here. Residents keep paying higher taxes and getting fewer services and I promise you next year I am going to do everything in my power to make that change.”
   Next council meeting will be 7:30 p.m. June 4 at the Hightstown First Aid Building, 168 Bank St.
   A Borough Council workshop will be held 7 p.m. May 30 at the Hightstown First Aid Building, 168 Bank Street for the Council to review and discuss options relating to Borough Hall. No action will be taken.