The Township Committee has adopted a $6.21 million budget to fund the operation of Millstone Township in 2015.
Committee members voted 4-0 in favor of the budget’s adoption during their June 17 meeting.
Mayor Robert Kinsey and committeemen Gary Dorfman, Fiore Masci and Mike Kuczinski voted to adopt the budget.
Committeewoman Nancy Grbelja was not present at the meeting.
Chief Financial Officer Annette Murphy said the budget that was adopted had no changes from the spending plan that was introduced on May 20.
In 2015, the municipal tax levy has remained flat at $2.59 million and the municipal tax rate has decreased from 16.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation in 2014 to 15 cents per $100 of assessed valuation in 2015.
The assessed value of the average home in Millstone Township has increased from $450,353 in 2014 to $496,682 in 2015. The owner of a home that is assessed at the township average will continue to pay about $745 in municipal taxes in 2015.
Two new sources of revenue have helped to keep the tax levy flat, according to Murphy. These include a $450,000 fee obtained by the township for a newly available liquor license and a $3,000 per month lease payment for a telecommunications tower. The tower will be leased for 20 years beginning July 1. The 2015 budget was expected to be available on the Millstone Township municipal website by June 19.
In other business, the committee introduced a bond ordinance for the 2015 road improvement program. The ordinance provides for the appropriation of $900,000 for the road improvement program through the issuance of $741,000 in bonds or notes.
The initiative will include improvements to Charleston Springs Road, Millstone Road (from Pine Hill Road to Baird Road), Baird Road (west of Millstone Road), and Windsor Road (from Perrineville Road to Feldsher Road), and miscellaneous improvements including milling, paving, drainage, curbing, site preparations and including all work and materials necessary.
A state Department of Transportation grant in the amount of $120,000 will be used for Charleston Springs Road.
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held at 8 p.m. July 1 in the municipal meeting room, 215 Millstone Road.
The committee also introduced a bond ordinance that provides for the appropriation of $55,000 for the acquisition of public works vehicles and equipment and authorizes the issuance of $52,250 in bonds or notes to finance part of the appropriation. The acquisition includes, but is not limited to, a snow removal vehicle.
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held at 8 p.m. July 1 in the municipal meeting room.
Among the resolutions scheduled to be voted on during the meeting were two that would conditionally approve a two-year mining permit for the Campo mining operation and the Buck mining operation.
The resolution approving the permit for the Campo mine was passed in a 4-0 vote. The resolution approving the operation of the Buck mine was tabled pending possible litigation.
Township Attorney Robert Munoz said his office had not received the litigation as of June 18. As a result of the committee’s decision not to act on the resolution, the Buck mine is not permitted to operate, according to municipal officials.