Hillsborough Taxes Reduced For 3rd Straight Year

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough residents will see a reduction in their taxes for the third straight year after the township committee introduced the 2020 budget.

"This budget is a result of our team's continued fiscal responsibility regarding municipal operations, despite continued operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic," stated Mayor Doug Tomson.

The committee met on June 9 to unanimously introduce the $29.9 million budget which is $172,000 less than the 2019 budget, Chief Financial Officer and Tax Collector Nancy Costa said.

Costa noted the township saw an increase in tax rateables allowing the municipal tax rate to be reduced for the third year in a row.

While the Hillsborough Township School Board and Somerset County portions of the tax rate have increased from 2015, the Township's tax rate has decreased by 1.4 cents since 2015.

Overall residents will see an increase of .316 cents per $100 of the $350,000 average assessed home. This is less than the increase of .319 cents in 2019.

"When we heard about COVID and all the disasters it could be bringing along, we really started to panic," Committeewoman Gloria McCauley said.

McCauley noted that Costa ensured the committee that most of the township's revenues were continuing to come in allowing the committee "to deliver this budget with such great news. It was shocking. A relief that we can cover the budget this year."

A public hearing before the budget is finalized will be held on July 14. The budget is currently available for residents to review on the township's website at hillsborough-nj.org.

"This budget is a direct result of the Township Committee's commitment to continued fiscal responsibility; working efficiently while providing our taxpayers the same level of service excellence they expect and deserve," Tomson said.

• Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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