By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
We are down to a three-cent tax rate increase for the proposed $48 million Township budget.
”We are moving in the right direction,” Township Councilman Joe Camarota said during Tuesday night’s budget hearing.
The plan, which is scheduled to be introduced at next week’s meeting, was proposed last month with a five-cent per $100 of assessed valuation increase in the municipal tax rate.
That amount has been whittled down to three-cents following two budget hearings.
If approved as it is, it would mean a property tax increase of $60 for the owner of a home assessed at $200,000.
Chief Financial Officer Joe Monzo said the budget needs to be introduced before March 15, according to state law, but does not have to be finalized right away.
A public hearing will be scheduled when the budget is introduced.
The hearings, which take place prior to the regular Township Council meetings, provide the governing body a chance to review the budget requests by each department.
Chief of Police Raymond Hayducka addressed the council during the first hearing, and the Public Works Department appeared before the council last week.
During last week’s hearing, Public Works Director Ray Olsen said his department had reached “a critical point” in staffing.
Deputy Mayor Chris Killmurray said the department should let the council know if it should consider bringing people on to help with the workload.
The budget hearings will continue at the municipal building on Route 522 at 6 p.m. Tuesday before the regular council meeting.
