Budget Hearing Begins at 5 p.m.

The Barnegat Township Committee will hold a public hearing and budget adoption at 5 p.m. today in the .

The 2011 municipal budget was amended Thursday, Sept. 15, after the state informed the township it needed to use surplus funds to eliminate a more than $820,000 deficit that was the result of tax appeals, said township officials.

The budget, which had been $21,308,314, is now $20,546,883. The amended total tax levy is $16,139,593, a $266 cut.

The adjustments mean the 2011 budget comes in $404,876 below 2010's total budget, with a tax levy that's $32,304 lower than last year's.