By Andrew Martins
Staff Writer
PLUMSTED – A $3.5 million budget to fund the operation of Plumsted in 2016 has been adopted by the Township Committee.
Officials adopted the budget on April 6 and there were no significant changes from the budget the committee had introduced in March.
The budget will be supported in part by the collection of $1.96 million in property taxes from Plumsted’s residential and commercial property owners.
“We started this process in November by looking at every line item in our budget and keeping everything at a bare minimum where we could,” Mayor Jack Trotta said. “It turns out to be a penny (increase) on the tax rate … it’s not that much money. We wish it was less, but there are things we have to do.”
The 2015 budget totaled $3.58 million and was supported in part by the collection of $1.89 million in local taxes. The municipal tax rate was 24.1 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, the average home was assessed at $279,100 and the owner of that home paid $673 in municipal taxes.
In 2016, the municipal tax rate is projected to be 25.1 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, the average home is assessed at $279,293 and the owner of that home will pay $701 in municipal taxes.
Officials expect to receive $452,322 in state aid in 2016 — the same amount that was received in 2014 and 2015.
The 1-cent increase in the municipal tax rate will have a different impact on each property owner depending on the assessed value of his home and/or property.
Municipal taxes are one component of a property owner’s total tax bill. Property owners also pay Plumsted Township School District taxes, Ocean County taxes and other assessments.
The budget pays for items such as the police department, municipal professionals such as attorneys and engineers, and the administration of the township.
Police salaries and wages have increased from $762,200 in 2015 to $784,435 in 2016, according to the budget. In 2016, municipal employees will pay about $62,000 of Plumsted’s projected group health insurance costs of more than $364,000. In 2015, employees paid more than $72,000 of the health insurance costs that exceeded $409,000.
The budget includes agreements with the Plumsted Township School District for the continuation of courtesy busing ($54,778) and school resource officers ($120,000).