By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN – The Borough Council introduced its 2016 budget at $6.7 million Monday night, which calls for a 1.5-cent increase in the municipal tax rate.
The tax rate for 2016 would be $1.177 per $100 of assessed value.
“The average cost is $35 more per year,” said Borough Administrator Henry Underhill in a statement. “We do now know what the school or county numbers are yet so we cannot give an accurate total tax rate number. This budget plan sets in place the foundation to maintain continue the trend of reduced spending.”
The average township household, with homes assessed at $212,893, would see a municipal tax bill of about $2,505.75. For the average township household in 2015, homes were assessed at $212,600 and were seeing a municipal tax bill of about $2,470.41.
The 2016 budget is proposed at $6,787,340.10. It’s a decrease of $60,846.06, or a decrease of 0.89 percent from last year’s budget with total appropriations up 7.6 percent from 2010 or 1.2 percent per year, according to the statement. A public hearing on the spending plan is set for May 16.
The amount to be raised by taxes is $69,451, according to the document.
“This budget maintains all services at the same levels as 2015,” said Mr. Underhill.
He said a new shared service with East Windsor for police dispatch will begin in May.
“There are savings in this budget and additional savings will be realized in 2017 when as the first full year of shared dispatch begins,” he said.
Mr. Underhill attributed the largest increases to police pension at $32,099; regular pension at $9,00; debt service at $48,300; and reserve for uncollected at $10,000. He said that the largest cost reductions are public safety at $110,653; insurance at $42,500; utilities at $22,685 and capital improvements at $9,500.
“The 2016 water/sewer budget is presented with no requirement to increase rates,” he said.
Mr. Underhill added that the new user fees approved for the 2015 budget have generated sufficient revenue to remain the same for 2016.
“Total appropriations for water/sewer are up only $5,216 or 0.16 percent,” he said.
In addition, the mayor and council are in the midst of negotiating a redevelopment agreement for the mill.
“Positive effects from this major community improvement may be seen as early as 2017,” said Mr. Underhill.
Mayor Larry Quattrone said that the borough budget would be available at Borough Hall and on borough website.
“We have more than 28 days to review the budget,” said Mayor Quattrone. “If you have any questions, bring them forward to council.”
