Council Adopts Budget, Includes Tax Increase For Lawrence Residents

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Lawrence Council adopted the 2023 budget during the meeting held last week. The budget includes a municipal tax rate of .6520, which represents a 2.50¢ increase.

The increase to a taxpayer that owns a home assessed at $300,000 is $18.75 per quarter or $75 annually.

The increase in costs was attributed to costs rising across industries and the need to hire firefighters, EMTs, civilian employees for the police department and other departments.

In a letter to the community, Municipal Manager Kevin Nerwinski said the costs were partially offset by “an increase in ratables, a half year of a new cannabis tax, and a successful grant program.”

“Additionally, this year we plan to transfer $3,350,000 from our Surplus Fund to our Capital Improvement Fund to fund our future capital improvement projects to avoid paying higher financing charges from bonding for the work. Importantly, this transfer does not factor in the amount to be collected by taxation,” Nerwinski said.

The township hopes to raise $30,686,650.90 in taxes for 2023, which is an increase of $1,259,547.27 over last year.

The budget was adopted 3-2 with Mayor John Ryan and Councilwoman Catherin MacDuff voting “no.”

Councilmember, Mayor Clash Over Budget

Mayor Ryan said he was voting 'no' on the budget after talking with residents who expressed their frustration.

Councilman James Kownacki clashed with Ryan saying he was working against the team.

“Since January this budget was presented to us. In that time not once have you sat down with me or any other council member to tell us where you want to cut. But yet, every meeting you say it could be better,” Kownacki said.

“I go out and talk to the residents and they feel this is the best budget the town has ever come up with. I don’t understand why you are not part of the team but working against the team.”

Ryan responded saying he spoke with Municipal Manager Kevin Nerwinski about the budget telling him where he expected to make cuts.

Nerwinski however refuted Ryan’s claim. “You said you came into my office and told me exactly what you wanted, I don’t recall that,” Nerwinski said. “The only thing you have requested of me was the Municipal Managers section of the budget, I don’t know what’s that for.”

Nerwinski said Ryan also asked for a list of the salaries of all employees.

“We should be a team. The community deserves our best and the budget is the most important thing for this governing body to do,” Nerwinski said.

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