EAST WINDSOR: Council introduces zero increase budget

By Jenine Clancy, Special Writer
   The Township Council introduced a $20.9 million municipal budget on Tuesday that projects no tax rate increase for the town,.
   The plan, however, does include a spending increasing of .9-percent, according to official.
   Mayor Janice Mirnov told the council the greater worth of her township was attributed to the amount of small businesses coming in.
   Despite all the spending challenges, like increased insurance group medical insurance costs and snow removal, the town was still under State municipal two-percent cap spending limit by $1.3 million.
   ”This is a fiscally conservative budget,” said Mayor Mirnov. “In these challenging times, East Windsor has worked hard to keep our spending levels tight and continually seek out service sharing opportunities and maintaing a very low debt level.”
   The mayor also the positive outcomes from the budget result from a “pro-active efforts to carefully plan and closely monitor expenditures and revenues throughout the year.”
   The tentative budget would see local property taxes remain the same from last year’s budget, imposing a tax rate of 43 cents per $100 of assessed value.
   The value of an average East Windsor home is $260,000, with a municipal tax of $1,118.
   This does not include property taxes for the schools, fire district or open space.
   Mayor Mirnov told the council putting together the budget faced many challenges, like many other New Jersey towns.
   ”Unfairly, under New Jersey law, municipality is responsible to pay for the defense of property tax appeals and refund most of the taxes paid, even though they were never paid to or used for municipal purposes,” Mayor Mirnov said.
   The township did suffer revenue losses from energy tax receipts, being shorted more than $2.9 million.
   Though there were some losses, but members of the council commending, were proud of the proposed budget.
   Deputy Mayor Alan Rosenburg said: “ We really take this very seriously and everybody should be commended for it.”