MANALAPAN – The Township Committee has introduced a $36.98 million budget to fund the operation of Manalapan during 2021. The budget will be supported by the collection of $25.18 million in taxes from the township’s residential and commercial property owners.
The budget was introduced during a meeting on April 14. Mayor Jack McNaboe, Deputy Mayor Susan Cohen, Committeeman Eric Nelson, Committeeman Barry Jacobson and Committeewoman Mary Ann Musich voted “yes” on a motion to introduce the budget.
A public hearing on the budget has been scheduled for May 12. Residents may ask questions about the budget at that time. The committee members may adopt the budget following the public hearing.
Township Administrator Tara Lovrich said state aid to Manalapan continues to remain flat and she said the township saw revenue losses during 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that began in March and has not abated.
Revenue was lost in cell tower leases and parking permits, among other areas, she said.
“We try to do the best we can with the hand we are dealt. Last year and this year this was some hand we were dealt,” Lovrich said.
The administrator said the 2021 budget accounts for increases in the cost of garbage collection and recycling collection, plus a $650,000 bill for snow removal in February.
“This was a very, very difficult budget and I want to thank Mrs. Lovrich and our chief financial officer, Tricia Addario, for their hard work on the budget,” Cohen said.
Manalapan’s 2019 budget totaled $34.49 million and was supported by a tax levy of $22.96 million; the receipt of $3.87 million in state aid; and the appropriation of $3.5 million from the surplus fund.
The average home was assessed at $448,180, the municipal tax rate was 33.1 cents per $100 of assessed valuation and the owner of that home paid $1,483 in municipal taxes.
Manalapan’s 2020 budget totaled $34.91 million and was supported by a tax levy of $23.54 million; the receipt of $3.87 million in state aid; and the appropriation of $3.5 million from the surplus fund.
The average home was assessed at $453,733, the municipal tax rate was 33.4 cents per $100 of assessed valuation and the owner of that home paid $1,515 in municipal taxes.
Manalapan’s 2021 budget totals $36.98 million and will be supported by a tax levy of $25.18 million; the receipt of $3.87 million in state aid; and the appropriation of $4 million from the surplus fund.
The average home is assessed at $460,978, the municipal tax rate is projected to be 35.1 cents per $100 of assessed valuation and the owner of that home will pay about $1,618 in municipal taxes.
Municipal taxes are one item on a property owner’s tax bill, which also includes Monmouth County taxes, Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District taxes, Freehold Regional High School District taxes and a fire district tax.
The total amount of taxes a property owner pays is determined by the assessed valuation of his home and/or property and the tax rate that is set by each taxing entity.
Lovrich said for every $1 in taxes a Manalapan property owner pays, 16% (i.e., 16 cents) goes to the township, 15% (15 cents) goes to Monmouth County, 46% (46 cents) goes to the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District, 20% (20 cents) goes to the Freehold Regional High School District, 2% (2 cents) goes to a municipal fire district and 1% (1 cent) goes to municipal open space.
In other business on April 14, the Township Committee members adopted an ordinance which establishes standards and guidelines for the development of a 100% affordable housing project on Route 33 westbound, just west of the Knob Hill residential community and golf course.
Township Attorney Roger McLaughlin said the 100% affordable housing project is part of Manalapan’s settlement with the New Jersey Superior Court and the Fair Share Housing Center, an organization that lobbies for the construction of affordable housing in the state.
The 100% affordable housing project will be constructed in front of an adult community that is being built on an adjacent parcel on Route 33 westbound. The adult community was approved for builder K. Hovnanian, but the project has changed hands and is being built by Toll Brothers, according to municipal officials.