Barnegat Approves $20 Million Budget; Taxes Will Remain Stable

The Barnegat Township Committee approved a $20,298,326 municipal budget for 2012 last night, a figure that will result in a $16,136,619 total tax levy for the township.

The budget will be $303,000 less than last year's and the tax levy will be reduced by $3,000, according to Barnegat officials.

According to a document released by the township, the average assessed home value was approximately $238,200 for 2011 and 2012.

"Based on this assessed value, the average tax bill will remain stable for 2012," the document said.

Members of the Township Committee have expressed pride at being able to reduce both the proposed operating budget and the tax levy for the second year in a row.

"It is a significant accomplishment to have a budget that represents for the second year a decrease in both the tax levy and the overall budget," Committeeman Martin Lisella has said.

"We're trending in the right direction," Mayor Al Cirulli previously said. "We are decreasing our expenses, and decreasing the amount of tax dollars needed to fund operations."

Township Administrator David Breeden has said personnel reduction and shared services agreements mainly with Ocean Township, but also with Ocean City, resulted in the savings.