Aberdeen officials have adopted their 2017 municipal budget with no rate increase.
During the May 18 meeting, the Aberdeen Council unanimously adopted the new budget for the year. The budget is $19.53 million and has a 0.536 tax rate-the same as last year, according to the Aberdeen press release.
The typical home is accessed at $285,000 and will be taxed $1,527.60, according to the release.
Mayor Fred Tagilarini attributed the zero-rate increase in part to the benefits of fees from multiple redevelopment projects now under way in the township, according to the release. Also, other contributing factors included lower financing costs arising from successful efforts to refinance bonds at lower interest rates as well as the township’s moves to make larger down-payments on capital projects.
“We are also proud to report that no municipal services or capital projects had to be cut to maintain the rate, and the surplus will be approximately $500,000,” Tagliarini said.
According to the release, some of the major capital projects include the Woodfield Sewer Project and the re-imagined Veterans Memorial Park at Cliffwood Beach, as well as the new Neighborhood Park Improvement Program.
Councilman Joseph Martucci, who served on the council’s capital budget committee along with Mayor Tagliarini and Deputy Mayor Margaret Montone, explained that the park program will help the town renovate the local parks, and will be funded through grant money.
“The Neighborhood Park program will bring a variety of enhancements to two to three venues per year, beginning with Andover, Deerfield and Midland Parks later this year, which will be funded in part by a $150,000 grant from Monmouth County,” Martucci said. “We will apply for grants every year for this program.”
According to Tagilarini, efforts to keep costs contained and maintain services for residents were underscored by the council’s successful work with the Aberdeen Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) to adjust the salary step-guide so it takes longer for newly-hired officers to reach the top salary step.
According to the release, the 2017 municipal tax rate is based on a total net valuation for all properties in the township of $2.08 billion, up 2.5 percent from $2.03 billion in 2016.
“A consistently increasing base helps to equalize any tax increases, and when our redevelopment projects are completed, those increased valuations from old factories to new construction will help further stabilize the Township’s tax rate,” Montone said.
According to Township Manager Holly Reycraft, the 2017 levy cap is $157,312 under the maximum allowable amount to be raised by taxation.