Council will Introduce Municipal Budget Wednesday

The council will introduce the 2013 municipal budget at its meeting Wednesday.

The municipal portion of the average homeowner’s tax bill increased $89 in 2011 and $99 last year. The average home is valued at $229,000.

The budget went up $1.4 million in 2012, a 2 percent increase. The budget included a $58.9 million tax levy, the portion of the budget funded by local taxes, up from $56.7 million in 2011. 

Budget figures for this year were not yet available.

The meeting will be broadcast online and on cable channel 77.

The council voted five to two to approve the budget last year. Councilmen Al Sadowski and Joseph Scuralli voted the budget down.

“I’ve never voted for a tax increase because I don’t believe the tax burden can be expanded any further than it already has been,” Scuralli said in 2012. “I believe people are at their limit and I don’t believe they can afford to pay more.”

A committee comprised of four or five council members will examine the budget and make recommendations on what actions should be taken regarding it. The council typically approves the budget in June.

School taxes could also be on the rise.

The average homeowner’s school taxes may increase $190. District officials are in the process of finalizing the 2013-14 budget.

The Board of Education will approve the budget at a special meeting March 27.

— Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.