Post by admin on Apr 29, 2007 15:36:57 GMT -5
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Municipal tax rate slated to rise in Freehold
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 04/29/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
FREEHOLD — A homeowner with a home assessed at the borough average of $257,000 would pay $72 more in municipal taxes if the Borough Council adopts the proposed budget for 2007.
The budget includes a tax rate increase of 2.8 cents per $100 of assessed value.
The council voted unanimously April 16 to introduce the budget of $13,073,705, which is up 4.26 percent from last year's budget of $12,539,494.87.
Councilman Robert Crawford was absent.
The proposed tax levy is $7,122,336, an increase of 4.23 percent over last year's levy of $6,833,501.
A public hearing and vote on whether to adopt the budget is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. May 23 in borough hall.
Salaries and wages, in addition to a $150,000 increase to the borough's obligatory police pension contribution, are among the reasons for the tax hike, according to Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina.
Also, police operating expenses are up between $8,000 and $10,000, Bellina said, noting that the cost of ammunition is skyrocketing. Moreover, the borough has to replace a police car that was in an accident a few weeks ago and pay for what insurance did not cover.
Among the capital purchases and projects are a new street sweeper and the resurfacing of Monmouth and Ann streets.
At the water plant, doors and windows need to be replaced; the plant is a humid area, causing things to decay, Bellina said. Also, two wells need to be repaired.
Gasoline costs are up $40,000, one-third from last year. The reserve for uncollected taxes is also up $40,000, and trash collection and disposal increased about $35,000.
Gail Trojan of Union Avenue did not appear surprised by the tax increase.
"It seems like every time we turn around, it's going up," Trojan said. "And I'm sure everyone feels the same way."
She said her tax bill went up a couple hundred dollars after the borough reassessed properties in 2005. She also knows of people whose taxes increased $1,500, although one family member of hers saw her taxes decrease by $400.
When told of the increases the borough was facing this year, Trojan said she guesses they do have a lot, but she said no one from the community goes into the borough building and scrutinizes the budget to look for instances where spending could be reduced.
"They gotta do what they gotta do," she said, referring to the borough.
Municipal tax rate slated to rise in Freehold
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 04/29/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
FREEHOLD — A homeowner with a home assessed at the borough average of $257,000 would pay $72 more in municipal taxes if the Borough Council adopts the proposed budget for 2007.
The budget includes a tax rate increase of 2.8 cents per $100 of assessed value.
The council voted unanimously April 16 to introduce the budget of $13,073,705, which is up 4.26 percent from last year's budget of $12,539,494.87.
Councilman Robert Crawford was absent.
The proposed tax levy is $7,122,336, an increase of 4.23 percent over last year's levy of $6,833,501.
A public hearing and vote on whether to adopt the budget is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. May 23 in borough hall.
Salaries and wages, in addition to a $150,000 increase to the borough's obligatory police pension contribution, are among the reasons for the tax hike, according to Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina.
Also, police operating expenses are up between $8,000 and $10,000, Bellina said, noting that the cost of ammunition is skyrocketing. Moreover, the borough has to replace a police car that was in an accident a few weeks ago and pay for what insurance did not cover.
Among the capital purchases and projects are a new street sweeper and the resurfacing of Monmouth and Ann streets.
At the water plant, doors and windows need to be replaced; the plant is a humid area, causing things to decay, Bellina said. Also, two wells need to be repaired.
Gasoline costs are up $40,000, one-third from last year. The reserve for uncollected taxes is also up $40,000, and trash collection and disposal increased about $35,000.
Gail Trojan of Union Avenue did not appear surprised by the tax increase.
"It seems like every time we turn around, it's going up," Trojan said. "And I'm sure everyone feels the same way."
She said her tax bill went up a couple hundred dollars after the borough reassessed properties in 2005. She also knows of people whose taxes increased $1,500, although one family member of hers saw her taxes decrease by $400.
When told of the increases the borough was facing this year, Trojan said she guesses they do have a lot, but she said no one from the community goes into the borough building and scrutinizes the budget to look for instances where spending could be reduced.
"They gotta do what they gotta do," she said, referring to the borough.
