Borough Breaks Down Tax Bill

Chances are you received this in the mail yesterday. And if you didn't, well, it's coming.

It's an informative, easy-to-read breakdown of how your 2010 taxes are being spent on the front. On the back, it's a letter from Hopatcong's mayor and council giving a deeper explanation.

Overall, this year's property taxes increased 6.94 percent.

The front-page chart said the schools comprise 53 percent of this year's tax bill, whereas town government accounts for 28 percent and the county gets 19 percent. Last year's numbers were about the same.

The back-page letter said the projected 2010 municipal budget would have allowed for a 1.34 percent tax decrease, but, due to outside factors, that number couldn't have been sustained.

"Though our appropriations only increased 2.3 [percent], these revenue impacts totaled $801,000 and changed our decrease in property taxes to a 6.94 [percent] increase in our tax levy," the letter said.

It also said the mayor and council's decision to reduce the schools' 2010 budget by $730,000 resulted in a reduction of this year's tax levy to 5.24 percent. Additionally, the county's tax rate increased 4.95 percent against last year's number.

The letter said Hopatcong's averaged assessed home costs $315,000.

"Regardless of these financial challenges confronting our community, we were still able to provide infrastructure improvements," the letter said. "These improvements were made possible by an aggressive grant writing campaign."

Finally, the letter said the grants Hopatcong received will allow for a Streetscape Project along Hopatchung Road, a road resurfacing program, a "click-it or ticket" seatbelt safety program and other improvements.

"In closing, we will continue to be fiscally responsible to our residents and businesses by seeking out new and alternative sources of revenue to maintain our tax base," the letter said.