Municipal Budget Introduced With 1.4% Tax Hike

The Montville Township Committee approved Tuesday night the introduction of the 2011 municipal budget. Mayor James Sandham said that while the new budget is up 1.4 percent, “we did a great job because our spending is less than a 1 percent increase.”

The official version of the budget is scheduled for introduction at the public hearing on May 24, according to Township Administrator Frank Bastone.

“We are looking at $16,298,751 to be raised in municipal taxes for a 1.44 percent increase in the levy and approximately one tax point,” Bastone said. 

The budget is available at the township clerk’s office, and will be posted on the municipal website on Wednesday. Included are a number of explanations including cap laws, Bastone said.

“It’s a good budget,” Bastone said. “It is well under the 2 percent cap, as it was last year.” 

Major expenses include contractual salary increases and health care, while the largest revenue is $1.4 million library surplus, according to Bastone. He added that the new budget will amount to an additional $35 for the average household.