Preliminary Township Budget Would Cost Average Homeowners $48 More Per Year

Mayor Janet Sobkowicz outlined the preliminary budget for Washington Township, explaining that the total amount has an increase of 1.7 percent over the spending plan last year.

The increase, which is under the 2 percent tax levy cap imposed by the state, means that residents with a home assessed at $542,000 would pay $48 more per year in municipal taxes. Sobkowicz pointed out that does not include any increases in the school or county tax bill.

The mayor said that even with high increases in areas such as employee health care and pensions, the budget has a modest increase. She admitted, however, "We're not going to be in such a favorable position next year."

According to Sobkowicz, the township received $176,000 from PSE&G after the gas main break, which it used in the budget, as well as $267,000 left over from a police arbitration award. She said officials can't count on the extra money for the next budget because the PSE&G payment was one time and there is no longer police arbitration money set aside like it had been for five or six years.

The mayor said in the proposed budget, she was using $1,120,000 in surplus funds, leaving $780,000 in surplus for the township.

Council President Fred Goetz said, "It's starting to get scary for me," when he heard the remaining surplus.

Sobkowicz said that although it might seem like a small amount in surplus, "I think we'll be OK."

Councilman Richard Hrbek said knowing that the township was not going to recover as much money as it did last year, he questioned whether so much surplus money should be used. The mayor said officials could elect to increase the tax levy up to the cap of 2 percent and save more surplus.

No final decisions on the budget have been made. The is scheduled for Monday night at 7:30 p.m. in the municipal complex, 350 Hudson Ave.