If adopted, the new tax rate will be 97.4 cents per $100 assessment. The averaged City home is assessed at 204,672. The homeowner of such an average assessed house would pay an additional $36 on the
by Amy Batista, Special Writer
BORDENTOWN CITY — The City Commissioners introduced a $5.39 million municipal budget, which calls for a 2-cent increase in the municipal tax rate during its special meeting last week.
If adopted, the new tax rate will be 97.4 cents per $100 assessment. The averaged City home is assessed at 204,672. The homeowner of such an average assessed house would pay an additional $36 on the municipal portion of their property tax bill.
Last year, the approved flat tax rate was 95.4 cents of $100 assessed property.
According to city officials, the budget is under the state-mandated 2 percent tax levy.
”I think we’ve made a commitment we are going to get as much done and service the public in this town to the best of our abilities given the constraints that we have with budgets,” said Mayor Joseph Malone, noting he felt “relatively comfortable” with city finances.
”I think it’s a good solid community,” the mayor said. “I think it’s solid financially and we just need to make sure that we maintain the infrastructure of the community in a solid way.”
Mayor Malone further noted that Bordentown City is a “town that if you do not pay attention to it can deteriorate very quickly.”
”We are the stewards of our community for this period of time and have to be very careful that we maintain quality of life of the community and the integrity of the infrastructure and do it in a way that the taxpayers can afford,” he said. “It’s our little kingdom here and we need to make sure Camelot stays.”
He explained the reason for calling a special meeting to introduce the budget.
”What I am doing is basically introducing it really early so I can have a date prior to the amendment dates,” he said, adding that if they would like to amend the budget they can do it during the May meeting.
He further noted that he would like to hold a meeting with the public between now and the May meeting so if any amendments need to be made they can be in May and finalized in June.
”It makes it a little easier and makes it more transparent so if somebody has questions,” he said.
Commissioner Zigmont Targonski noted that Ocean Spray will impact the taxes in the future.
”When they go, they are going to decrease our tax revenue,” said Mr. Targonski. “It’s not all going to go away because it is still going to be there but a certain amount of it is going to go away.”
Mayor Malone noted there is “nothing significant” in the budget for this year.
It is pretty much a maintenance budget of items we already have in there, he said.
”The big items in this year’s budget are to look at some of the capital improvements we have to make,” he said, adding they have been items that have been discussed during the past several commissioner meetings.
Some of these items include public works, which needs new equipment including a bucket truck, possibly considering a leaf vac truck, purchasing another small dump truck to replace an older one and a small pick up truck.
The police department needs to replace some vehicles in its fleet.
”The police cars are getting past their normal age and its getting more costly to repair the cars than it is to just go out and buy some additional police cars,” he added. “That’s some that Jimmy (Deputy Mayor Lynch) has been asking for the last couple of years.”
Several requests from several departments, primarily the water department, inquired about renewing the water meters.
”The major items will be the renewal of the water meters which will probably be in the neighborhood of a $1 million,” he said. “That will have to go out to bid and that will have to be part of a bond issue.”
Other items will include looking at a new well to “maintain our quality of water.”
”A number of our other wells are getting older and their capabilities and contaminants get into the well based on years of use,” he said, adding that iron is removed now out of the well.
Two years ago, a geologist was hired to provide the city with information on well placement and quality of water, he said.
”This well is a little bit deeper than the other wells,” he said.
”We already know where to get really good water,” Mr. Targonski said.
The city is also looking to continue work on the Gilder House project which was a $500,000 project that was started about five to seven years ago, Mayor Malone said.
”That was something and we have to continue that project,” he said, adding it relates to the heating system in the house.
The commissioners are considering putting in an elevator and doing some other maintenance repairs in Old City Hall.
The phone system may also be receiving an upgrade.
”If you ever try to call here sometimes it’s not easy to get a hold of someone,” he said, adding it’s not a 21st century phone system.
The commissioners are also trying to address the ongoing flood issue and looking into redesigning the back parking lot at Old City Hall.
”Every time we have a major flood or snow storm it’s a lake back here,” he said. “It gets a point where it’s hazardous situation.”
Some roadwork is also being considered.
”We want to do some street work,” he said. “Gilder (Park) Road is in pretty poor condition and we need to do something about repaving that road.”
A standby generator is also being considered by the commissioners. The final location has not been determination but Carslake Recreation Center or Hope Hose Humane Fire Company.
”It would be part of an ordinance,” he said.
He acknowledged Mr. Targonski for pursuing grants, which help with many park projects.
”We’ve been able to utilize grants to do a lot of park projects and we are going to go after another grant project this year,” he said. “These are ongoing things.”
A public hearing on is set for June 9 at 7:00 p.m.