WEST AMWELL: Local government share of tax rate would stay flat

West Amwell introduces $3.5 million budget

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   A proposed West Amwell Township budget for 2014 would bring no increase in the municipal property tax rate, if adopted.
   Introduced Monday night by the Township Committee was a $3,547,330 budget, up $121,000 from last year’s budget of $3,428,855.
   The budget will be scheduled for a public hearing and adoption vote at a Township Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 28. Under state law, the public hearing on the proposed spending plan must be held prior to the adoption vote. At least 28 days must elapse between a local government’s vote to introduce a budget and a vote to adopt it.
   Under the budget, local property taxes would pay for $1,226,000, with the balance coming from other sources of revenue.
   Like 2013’s budget, the proposed spending plan will bring a municipal tax rate of 25 cents per $100 of assessed property value if adopted. For a township home assessed at $350,000, that translates to an annual municipal property tax bill of $875.
   There are no significant changes in services or personnel and no big-ticket purchase items involved in the proposed budget for 2014, township officials said.
   The township announced that New Jersey Clean Energy is picking up, recycling and paying $50 for unwanted refrigerators and freezers. For information, go to www.njcleanenergy.com or all 877-270-3520.