Politics & Government
Township Budget Going Up But Taxes Not So Much
Committee passes introduction of $16.1 million 2011 budget.
The Township Committee approved a resolution setting the 2011 municipal budget at $16,132,267, Thursday.
The budget total represents a 1.15 increase in spending outside of capital projects, such as road improvements, but officials said municipal taxe rates will be flat under the proposed budget despite a 1.99 percent increase in the amount to be raised by taxes. The rates will remain stable with the increase because of a matching increase in total assessments in the township, which may affect individual property owners' tax bills.
A public hearing was set for May 19.
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Several revenue sources in the budget anticipate increases, including fees charged to cable TV companies and Verizon for the right to provide service in the township (increasing 125 percent to $167,000). But others budget lines are dropping—hotel and motel fees collected are expected to decline by half, to $45,000, and the township budgeted $50,000 less in reimbursements from the school districts for gas purchases.
The township sees jumps in expenses for employee, police and fire retirement contributions, which are set by the state. The bill for the township's contribution to the Public Employee Retirement System jumps by 43 percent, to $407,262, and contributions for the police and fire retirement system rise by 21.6 percent to $739,460.
Find out what's happening in Warrenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Helping to offset the increases are savings in police salaries and group insurance costs for the township—the township will spend $107,600 less on police department salaries in 2011 than in 2010 (although it's largely offset by a $66,350 increase in other expenses for the department); and $43,245 less on group insurance for employees.
The budget was passed without comment from the committee members or the public, except for Committee Vic Sordillo's comment noting the work done by Deputy Mayor Carolann Garafola and Township Administrator Mark Krane in preparing it.
+$499,980 (3.19 percent)
Amount to be raised by taxes $10,675,362 $10,887,920 +$212,558 (1.99 percent) Revenue Cable TV fees collected $74,000 $167,000+$93,000 (125 percent)
Contribution to police, fire retirement
$607,953 $739,460 +$131,507 (21.6 percent)Group insurance
$101,123 $57,878 -$43,245 (42.7 percent)Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
