Middletown Lowers Tax Rate With New 2017 Budget

MIDDLETOWN, NJ - On Monday night, the Middletown Township Committee will introduce a 2017 budget that reduces spending and actually lowers the municipal tax rate by nearly 3.49 percent.

The municipal levy will decrease by $161,459 under the proposed budget. For the average homeowner, municipal taxes will decrease $5.31 this year.

“Actually reducing property taxes in New Jersey is a rare occurrence,” said Middletown Deputy Mayor Stephanie Murray in a statement. “I’m very happy and proud of my colleagues and our staff. With Monmouth County introducing a budget with a 0% increase, Middletown taxpayers can see a real reduction this year. It would be fantastic if the Middletown Board of Education could bring in their budget with a reduction too.”

Here's where Middletown was able to reduce costs in the 2017 budget, according to a statement provided to Patch:

• Middletown's snow budget decreased by $180,000 thanks to a milder winter this year.
• There was a $100,000 reduction in this year’s fuel budget for all Township vehicles due to stable fuel prices.
• Shared services with other towns in Monmouth County, such as merging Middletown's 911 call takers with the county (a decision that remains unpopular to some), realized a cost savings.

Where costs rose:

• While predictably health insurance costs increased -- by $320,000 or 3.12 percent -- the Township Committee was still able to achieve an overall spending reduction in 2017.

“We’ve taken a fine tooth comb to this budget in order to develop a spending plan that reduces costs without sacrificing core essential services,” said Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, Ph.D. “We consistently seek ways to further minimize costs, maximize revenues and stretch a dollar.”

For the past ten years, Middletown's tax rate has been among the lowest in Monmouth County.