Watchung Council OKs $12.8 Million Budget

The Watchung Borough Council approved a 2012 municipal budget that includes $247,507 in additional appropriations, Thursday.

Total appropriations in the the 2012 budget are $12,777,082, with the amount to be collected by taxes reaching $7,973,858. The tax rate will increase 1.6 percent, from $0.491 to $0.499 per $100 in assessed value.

Borough officials said the average assessment increased from $624,000 to $633,000, translating to a $95.13 increase on a property at the average—but officials stress with the borough's 4-year reassessment cycle, property owners need to check their actual assessments to determine the tax impact on their own properties.

The budget includes funding for a number of .  

The final appropriations figure for 2011 was $12,568,071.39.

The council set a public hearing for the budget for the 7 p.m. June 14 Borough Council meeting.