PLUMSTED: Budget to include 1-cent increase

The $3.45 million budget, which is within the 2 percent tax levy cap, was introduced at a brief special meeting March 13.

by James McEvoy, Managing Editor
PLUMSTED — The Township Committee has introduced a budget, which if ultimately adopted, would raise the municipal portion of the average property owner’s tax bill increase by $19.
   The $3.45 million budget, which is within the 2 percent tax levy cap, was introduced at a brief special meeting March 13.
   If adopted as introduced, an owner of a home assessed at the township average of $276,048 will pay $635 in the municipal portion of their property taxes, an 3 percent tax increase. The tax rate is increasing to 23 cents per $100 dollar of assessed valuation ($2,760 x .23 = $634.80).
   In 2013, the owner of the home assessed at the township average of $275,900 paid $616 in the municipal portion of their property tax.
   Township officials stated the spending plan actually includes $28,711 less in appropriations than last year, however, an additional $89,000 will need to be raised to support the budget. In addition, the 3 percent increase includes debt service, which is not subject to the 2 percent cap.
   According to a budget summary provided by the township, the salary and wages portion of the township’s operating expenses is expected to increase by approximately $9,500. Other operating expenses are proposed to jump by over $207,000.
   Capital improvement costs are the most significant proposed decrease at $144,026 from 2013, while debt service is also slated to decrease by approximately $97,000. The reserve for uncollected taxes is nearly flat with just over a $50 decrease, and deferred charges and other appropriations are expected to decrease by just over $3,700.
   Business administrator Ron Dancer said a significant factor in the budget was the fact the municipality is losing $140,000 in transitional aid, which was included in the 2013 budget of help offset tax appeals, which were a significant factor in last year’s budget, which resulted in the average tax payer paying $55 more in municipal taxes than in 2012.
   Prior to last year’s budget adoption, Committeeman Jack Trotta said from 2012 to 2013 the township lost nearly $270 million in its tax base a result of the reassessment. Due to the reassessment, the average assessed value of a home in Plumsted in 2013 was $275,900, compared to $372,067 in 2012.
   Committeeman Trotta further noted the township had to absorb the impact of the tax appeals, necessitating the municipality to borrow $145,000 and $282,000 for refunds in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
   Mr. Dancer said there have been “very few tax appeals” this year.
   A hearing on the budget is scheduled for April 23 at 7 p.m.