Council Introduces Budget

Moorestown residents will see a small increase in the municipal portion of their 2011 budget based on the budget introduced by Town Council Monday night.

A second reading and public hearing will be held June 27.

“We pushed through this budget in a number of workshops and got through a number of questions,” said Mayor John Button. “We’ve finally reached a point where we are prepared to introduce it.”

The 2011 budget will mean an increase of $26.69 for a home assessed at the township average of $533,800, according to Chief Financial Officer Thomas J. Merchel.

The 2010 municipal budget had a zero increase.

According to Merchel, the $22,903,018 budget is $51,372 higher than last year’s budget, an increase of less than a quarter of 1 percent. The tax levy is $259,000 higher than last year, a one-half of one-cent increase. The 2011 levy is $926,403 less than the maximum levy cap allowed.

The $259,000 increase is based on $51,000 appropriations increase, $78,000 less revenues and $130,000 impact from lost rateables.

“I want to thank Tom for all the hard work he put into this,” said Councilwoman Stacey Jordan. “Council has done a great job the past two years to keep expenses at bay.”

 “We have a lot more work to do in the run up to next year,” said Deputy Mayor Greg Gallo, noting that council did not use any gimmicks–such as using deferred school taxes–to finalize the budget. “We are working toward sustainability and affordability and that can’t be based on gimmicks.”

In other action:

• Council approved a 1¢ tax levy to support the Open Space, Recreation and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund Program. The levy will raise $464,164 per year.
• A contract, in the amount of $233,279, was awarded to Mazza & Sons of Tinton Falls for the demolition of town hall.
• A professional services contract was awarded to Taylor Design Group for planning/landscape architectural services for the K.I.D.S. project. The work will be done in four phases at a cost of $49,250. Stacey Jordan and Chris Chiacchio voted against the resolution awarding this contract.