State Aid to Remain Flat: What Do You Think?

East Brunswick can expect to get the same municipal state aid this year as it got last year —$4.174 million

The state Department of Community Affairs released municipal state aid figures for the state Thursday after Gov. Chris Christie introduced his fiscal year budget proposal, which keeps aid at the same levels as last year.

Mayor David Stahl said he’s not surprised that state aid is remaining flat.

“That was what we expected, but the budget process in Trenton is still going on,” said Mayor Stahl. “I’m working on my budget now, and we’re getting close to an operating budget, which is always contingent on the dollar amount from the state.”

Mayor Stahl said he expects to introduce a capital budget on Monday, Feb. 22, with a second reading tentatively scheduled on March 12.

On March 26, he expects to introduce an operating budget that calls for less spending, and a decrease in the township tax rate.

"We wanted the capital budget to go to the council, and hopefully they’ll adopt it in that format, so we can get it out of the way, and then we can turn our attention to working together on the operating budget, which will call for a tax decrease.”

Last year, the Township Council approved a that carried a municipal tax rate of $1.82 per $100 of assessed valuation. Under that rate, the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 paid $1,820 in municipal purpose taxes last year.

During his , Mayor Stahl said he would introduce a spending plan for this year that calls for less spending and a decrease in taxes. A decrease in spending has accompanied each operating budget since 2008, something the mayor attributed to several factors, including a streamlining of the township work force and the restructuring of several township departments, including combining the departments of Parks and Public Works, and the water and sewer utility.