Taxes to Increase Under Approved Budget

Township committee members approved a $12.8 million budget Monday night that will see no decline in services or layoffs, but still an increase in taxes.

The average household will see an increase of about $42 a year, or 1.9¢ per $100 of assessed property value for 2012-13.

That figure is calculated based on a home valued at the township average of $289,000.

The tax levy is $8,412,802, up about $350,000 from the . The township is receiving the , $1,920,745.

The main reason for the increase, said administrator Gerry Seneski, is the amount of .

“We’re losing a lot of money in tax appeals,” said Seneski, whose . “We were hit with a horrendous amount in 2011.”

A building inspector position was added to the budget this year, however that position was offset by revenue coming in, Seneski said. Health insurance costs increased and pension costs for the police department decreased.

“No budget is without its challenges,” Seneski said, “but this one, we’ve seen a bit of relief.”

The spending plan is about $266,000 below the state-mandated 2-percent cap, Seneski added.

“There really are no increases in our budget,” Seneski said.

Property value decreased more than $16 million total last year because of various tax appeals and a decrease in ratables.

Tax bills are made up of taxes to the , county, , open space fund for the county, open space fund for the and the county library. About 16 percent of a resident's tax bill goes to the municipal budget.