Residents would pay $114 on average in municipal taxes
By: Nick Norlen
WEST WINDSOR West Windsor residents would pay an average $114 more in municipal property taxes a 2-cent increase per $100 of assessed property value according to a proposed 2007 budget submitted to the Township Council by Business Administrator Chris Marion on Thursday.
The council opened its budget-drafting season Thursday with a three-hour meeting featuring discussion of portions of the proposed budgets of the Human Services and Public Works departments.
Before the department heads gave their budget proposals, Mr. Marion announced a proposed 2007 operating budget of $32,860,000.
He said the expenses would be offset by $18,524,960 in tax revenue, $7,744,359 in miscellaneous revenue, $3,108,581 in state aid and $32,097 in grants. The balance, he said, would be covered by an appropriation of $3,450,000 from the township’s surplus, leaving $2,639,903 in surplus to stabilize taxes for 2008 and 2009.
According to Chief Financial Officer Joanne Louth, the 2007 tax rate would be 29 cents per $100 of assessed value up from 27 cents in 2006.
She said the average assessed value of homes in the township is $574,800, which translates to municipal taxes for the average homeowner of $1,666 an increase of $114 from last year.
Presentation of budget proposals began with Senior and Social Services Manager Lynn Thornton.
After a brief explanation of the role of her department, Ms. Thornton noted that the township’s senior center expanded its services in 2006.
"The budget that I proposed reflects that growth," she said.
Further discussion of the senior and social services department focused on the possibility of funding a shuttle bus to transport seniors to the senior center.
Council President Linda Geevers and council members Franc Gambatese and Will Anklowitz expressed interest in such a service, and discussed developing a pilot program to test the proposal as well as looking at models of the same service in other townships.
The next presentation was made by Recreation and Parks Manager Ken Jacobs.
He said the fact that his division draws from a recreational trust fund helps keep budgetary costs low and his department "mostly self-sufficient."
Next, Environmental Health Services Manager Jill Swanson listed initiatives planned for 2007, including the development of a retail food inspection program and continued pandemic flu planning.
Discussion between council members and Public Works Director George Spille focused on limiting the amount of overtime paid to township employees.
Council members expressed concern about the $30,000 of overtime paid to employees in 2006.
"Overtime is not a productive way of running labor," Mr. Gambatese said.
Staffing increases and outsourcing were discussed as solutions.
Mr. Marion said budget adoption is scheduled for April 16. The council will hold its next budget work session Feb. 20 in Room A immediately following the 7 p.m. agenda session.
Law, municipal court, emergency services and police division budgets will be discussed.