By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR— Township property owners will not see an increase in their municipal property taxes for the second year in a row, based on the $38.09 million municipal budget for 2015 adopted by Township Council Monday night.
The municipal property tax rate is unchanged at 38 cents per $100 of assessed value. This means the owner of a house assessed at the township average of $522,456 will pay $1,985.33 in municipal property taxes — the same as 2014.
Township Council President Bryan Maher, Township Council Vice President Linda Geevers and Township Council members Peter Mendonez Jr. and Kristina Samonte voted to adopt the budget. Township Council member George Borek was absent.
The spending plan, which was prepared by Mayor Shing-Fu Hseueh and modified by Township Council over several budget meetings, increased from $37.75 million for 2014 to $38.09 million, or less than 1 percent.
The budget calls for raising $22.72 million from property taxes to support the budget. Other sources of revenue include $4.82 million from the fund balance; $2.19 million in state aid; and $5.42 million in miscellaneous revenue.
On the expenditure side, the budget allocates $7.75 million for public safety — police, fire and emergency medical services. This amounts to 20.36 percent of the budget. Debt service of $5.72 million takes the second largest share of spending.
Overall, salaries and wages increased from $12.93 million for 2014 to $13.18 million in the 2015 budget. Operating expenses went up slightly from $24.81 million in 2014 to $24.91 million.
Mr. Maher, the Township Council president, said the council “can’t go on with a zero tax rate increase forever,” but “we will do as much as we can to control costs.” He said the budget was a “responsible” one and that he was happy with it.
Ms. Geevers, the Township Council vice president, also noted that the tax rate did not increase. This budget is “sensitive to the taxpayers. All in all, it is a responsible budget,” she said.
