By Jennifer Amato
Staff Writer
SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Although residents will see a 13-cent tax increase on their tax bills, only 1 cent is due to an increasing municipal budget.
The $52,355,000 municipal budget carries a local tax levy of $29,821,000, according to Joseph Monzo, township CFO and deputy manager. The utility fund is $27,018,000.
The municipal tax rate of 81.9 cents per $100 is 1 cent greater than last year, and translates into an $18 increase on an average assessed home of $188,800.
“Residents tend to look at their tax bill and blame the local government,” Monzo said, “but in the 13-cent tax increase [due to county and school taxes] we account for one penny of it. It’s a fairly insignificant tax increase considering the level of services we are able to maintain.”
Monzo said $3 million in surplus is being used as revenue in the new budget, while state aid remains flat at $5,191,000.
“The only one [item] that had any significant increase is group health insurance,” Monzo said, noting an increase from $6,429,000 to $7,413,000.
There are also planned municipal new hires, including two laborers in the streets department, two laborers in the utility fund, two new patrol officers, one new registered environmental health specialist and one civilian traffic administrator, Monzo said, though those can change.
In terms of capital improvements, Monzo said a down payment of $100,000 will allow for $2 million in capital improvements.
The budget was adopted during the council meeting on April 26.
Contact Jennifer Amato at [email protected].