By Christina Whittington, Special Writer
CHESTERFIELD — Once again, the 2012 municipal tax increase was mentioned, albeit briefly, at a Township Committee meeting.
On Sept. 27, Mayor Michael Hlubik said that a special meeting to address taxes has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, at Chesterfield Elementary School.
As previously reported by the Register-News, more than 100 residents were in attendance at the Sept. 12 Township Committee meeting to protest Chesterfield’s property tax increase.
The 2012 municipal tax rate now has been set at 29.5 cents. The 2011 municipal tax rate was 5.3 cents.
For some residents, the new tax rate equated to an increase of $600 or more per quarter.
”Our professionals will be there,” Mayor Hlubik said in reference to the Oct. 11 special meeting. “Jack Maley will be there, and a presentation will be made, and we will answer questions relative to the taxes at that time.”
Mr. Maley, a certified public accountant, is the auditor for Chesterfield Township. He was not at the Sept. 12 committee meeting.
The 2012 municipal tax rate increased by more than 2 percent as the previous tax rate was under 10 cents. Mayor Hlubik noted in a letter posted on the township website that, in the future, Chesterfield will be limited to the 2 percent cap levy.
”Nothing can be done for the taxes for this year,” the mayor said. “So the discussion is for what we can try to do for next year. Through the years, we worked on the surplus, and I will say again that Chesterfield taxes have been below 10 cents forever, and we have kept them below 10 cents.”
Mayor Hlubik said he had received many phone calls from residents saying that they would like to attend a civil meeting.
”So, what we will do on Oct. 11 is, we will have a civil meeting, and it will be related to the taxes,” Mayor Hlubik said.
Mayor Hlubik also told the audience that if they were concerned about taxes, to start watching the newspapers in the spring.
”Because those meetings we have basically from January through March — almost at every meeting — something about taxes comes up, and it’s an appropriate time if you want to discuss taxes,” Mayor Hlubik said.
In other news, the township is scheduled to plant 1,408 trees by the first week in November.
According to Township Engineer Christopher Trebisky, planting is slated to begin Monday, Oct. 8.
As previously reported, the township received funding for the trees through the No Net Loss Grant. For 2012, the township was allocated $423,233, which, according to Mr. Trebisky, is about $300 per tree. In 2011, Chesterfield received $300,000 through the grant.
The No Net Loss Grant is a reforestation act that requires state entities to replant trees when trees are removed during development projects involving one half acre or more. The No Net Loss Grant is between the township and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Due to the New Jersey Turnpike widening project through Chesterfield, the township was included in the No Net Loss Grant program.
It identifies the amount of trees razed through the Turnpike widening project and permits the township to reforest within the community at its discretion.
”We are planting a variety of trees, approximately 20 different species, at different locations throughout the township, including Charlotte Rodgers Park, the Chesterfield Elementary School and on three properties located adjacent to the Turnpike that were most affected by the Turnpike widening project,” Mr. Trebisky told the Register-News on Tuesday.
Mr. Trebisky also said the township publicly bid this project and awarded the contract to the lowest bidder, Trees Now Inc., of Cream Ridge, with the majority of the trees coming from its nursery in Columbus. However, the township did require at least 25 percent of the trees to be supplied by a nursery in Chesterfield Township.
The next regular Township Committee meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10.
The special tax discussion meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at Chesterfield Elementary School cafeteria, 30 Saddle Way, Chesterfield.

