ALLENTOWN – The members of the Allentown Borough Council have introduced the 2021 municipal budget and scheduled a public hearing for April 6. At that time, residents may ask questions or make comments about the budget.
Council members introduced the budget during their March 2 meeting, which was conducted in a virtual manner during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Council President John A. Elder III, Councilman Robert Strovinsky, Councilman Michael Drennan, Councilwoman Martha Johnson and Councilwoman Erica Torsiello voted “yes” on a motion to introduce the budget.
Councilman Dan Payson was absent from the meeting.
According to a budget document posted on the borough’s website, municipal appropriations will increase by $140,000 from $2.99 million in 2020 to $3.13 million in 2021.
Allentown’s residential and commercial property owners support municipal operations through the payment of a local tax levy. The tax levy will increase by $100,000 from $1.58 million in 2020 to $1.68 million in 2021.
Municipal taxes are one item on a property owner’s total tax bill. Allentown property owners also pay Upper Freehold Regional School District taxes and Monmouth County taxes.
The amount an individual pays in property taxes is determined by the assessed value of his home and/or property and the tax rate that is set by each taxing entity (i.e., municipality, school district and county).
According to the budget document, Allentown’s municipal tax rate will increase from 82 cents per $100 of assessed valuation in 2020 to 87.2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation in 2021.
In 2020, the average home in Allentown was assessed at $291,600. The owner of that home paid about $2,391 in municipal taxes (.82 x 2,916).
In 2021, the average home in Allentown is assessed at $292,860, according to Chief Financial Officer June Madden. The owner of that home will pay about $2,554 in municipal taxes (.872 x 2,928).
On the revenue side of the 2021 budget, the document indicates municipal officials will use $444,500 from the borough’s surplus account and receive $131,595 from the state.
In 2020, municipal officials used $566,547 from surplus to hold the tax levy flat at $1.58 million during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and received $131,595 from the state.
On the appropriations side of the 2021 budget, the document indicates municipal officials will fund the following selected appropriations: $92,300 on legal services; $97,500 on engineering services and costs; $70,000 on employee group heath insurance; $535,000 on police salaries and wages; $34,000 on aid to the volunteer fire company; $210,000 for garbage and trash removal; $112,700 on a payment to the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System of New Jersey; and $170,000 on the payment of bond principal.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Allentown has a population of just under 1,900 residents.