Municipal Taxes Down From last Year

Residents will get their say on a $55.865 million municipal budget that calls for an 4.3 percent decrease in municipal taxes during a public hearing at 8 p.m., Monday, May 21.

The spending plan calls for a municipal tax rate of $1.806 per $100 of assessed valuation. Under that rate, the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 can expect to pay $1,806 in municipal taxes, down from $1,843 paid by the average home owner last year.

The budget is $547,078 less than last year’s $56.412 million spending plan, with the biggest cut in spending coming in salaries and wages, down by $663,136 to $19.704 million. Finance Department Head Lou Neely said that while the number of township employees has only dropped by two, 253 in 2012 from 255 in 2011, there have been several retirements, with replacement employees coming in at a lower salary.

The 2012 budget calls for $35.008 million to be raised in taxes, $1.209 million less than 2011. The township also will see a $646,331 increase in miscellaneous revenues—$16.985 million from $16.339 million—which includes things such as recreation fees, police sign fees, fees for sports programs and more. Also on the revenue side,

According to this year’s spending plan, the township has budgeted $7.715 million for the dedicated water utility budget, down from $7.973 million last year. The township will pay $0 in capital improvements this year, down from $150,000 last year, and $1.152 million in salaries and wages, down from $1.292 million last year. The utility has 22 employees.

For the Crystal Springs Family Aquatic Center, the township is expecting a budget of $697,088, down from $761,763 last year. In the upcoming year, the township will pay $79,550 in debt service, a significant decrease from the $162,425 it paid in 2011. In addition, after this year the center will be completely paid off, township officials have said. Crystal Springs has 200 part-time employees and expects to pay them a total of $326,448, the same as last year.

For the Parking Utility Budget, the township expects to pay $2.539 million, down from $2.939 million. The biggest drop in spending is the amount it will pay in debt, $1.822 million for 2012, down from $2.052 million.

The township also is budgeting less for the Sewer Utility budget, 5.687million for 2012, down from $5.908 million, with the largest decrease coming debt service as well, $594,513 in 2012 from $874,458.

East Brunswick also will increase the amount it’s spending on the East Brunswick Public Library. The township has budgeted $3.327 million for the institution, up $82,504 from last year. In addition, the township is only required to spend $2.535 million on the library but traditionally gives well above that amount.

The public hearing will be held at 8 p.m. in the township meeting room in the .