Superstorm Sandy Legacy Still Impacting Berkeley Township Budget

by Patricia A. Miller

Superstorm Sandy may be almost four years gone, but it is still affecting the 2016 Berkeley Township budget, Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. said.

Berkeley's ratables were up slightly in 2015, by nearly $17.5 million, for a total of $5,119,435,600. But that's still less than the total ratable values back in 2010, the mayor said.

The 2016 introduced budget totals $45,983,833, up $747,989 or 1.66 percent from last year.

The budget increase will translate into a $39.27 increase in municipal taxes for a home assessed at the township average of $199,200. The average annual municipal tax bill will $1,230,01, up from $1,190.66, according to the introduced budget.

Berkeley is still paying back a $1.2 million emergency appropriation over a five-year span to help with cleanup and infrastructure repairs after Superstorm Sandy slammed into the township on Oct. 29, 2012.

Amato is hopeful that Senate bill S- 1978 will be approved. The bill, introduced by state Senator Christopher J. Connors - would give municipalities 10 years to pay back the emergency notes, instead of five years.

"This legislation would no doubt help Berkeley Township and all Sandy-affected communities in a positive way," he said.

The municipal tax rate will rise from 60 cents for each $100 of assessed valuation to 61.75 cents under the proposed budget.

Berkeley officials are also pushing for the passage of Senate bill S-265, which calls for the state to reimburse municipalities that exempt disabled veterans from property taxes. Berkeley loses about $34,529,900 in assessed value and subsidizes the exemptions in the amount of $695,000 per year, Amato said.

"If these pieces of legislation would become law, we would be able to eliminate the slight increase in the 2016 introduced budget," the mayor said.

A public hearing on the budget will be held at 10 a.m. on July 11 at Town Hall, 627 Pinewald-Keswick Road, Bayville.