By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
UPPER FREEHOLD – The Township Committee has adopted a $5.5 million budget that will include a $18 increase in municipal taxes for a resident who owns a home that is assessed at the township average.
The 2017 municipal budget was adopted on April 6. Mayor Robert Frascella, Deputy Mayor Stephen Alexander and committee members LoriSue Mount and Stanley Moslowski voted to adopt the budget. Committeeman Robert Faber was absent.
The $5.5 million budget will be supported by the collection of $2.79 million in taxes from Upper Freehold’s residential and commercial property owners. Other revenue includes $1.25 million from surplus funds (savings) and $518,481 in state aid.
Upper Freehold Township’s 2016 budget totaled $5.45 million and was supported by the collection of $2.73 million in taxes from property owners. Other revenue included $1.1 million from surplus funds and $518,481 in state aid.
The municipal tax rate in 2016 was 22.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation in 2016. The average home in Upper Freehold was assessed at $465,000 and the owner of that home paid about $1,046 in municipal taxes last year.
In 2017, the municipal tax rate is projected to be 22.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home that is assessed at $465,000 will pay $1,064 in municipal taxes this year – an increase of $18 – according to budget documents.
Municipal taxes are one component of a property owner’s tax bill, which also includes Monmouth County taxes, Upper Freehold Regional School District taxes and other assessments.
Among the other assessments residents pay is a municipal open space tax that will raise $731,481 this year to be used for the preservation and acquisition of open space parcels in Upper Freehold. The owner of a home assessed at $465,000 will pay about $280 into the open space fund in 2017.
According to budget documents, appropriations in 2017 include municipal debt service, $1.58 million; reserve for uncollected taxes, $1 million; general government, $621,109; insurance, $429,133; public safety, $410,626; capital expenses, $270,000; public works, $246,505; statutory expenses, $207,532; shared services, $188,676; and utilities and bulk purchases, $104,000.
Those categories account for $5.06 million of the total $5.5 million budget.
Upper Freehold has 21 full-time employees, which includes five firefighters, and eight part-time employees, according to budget documents. The municipality does not have a police department. Coverage is provided by the New Jersey State Police.
The township had a population of 6,900 residents according to a 2014 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau.