Local Taxes On The Rise For 2012

Local tax bill will cost homeowners an average of $60 more in 2012 under the Township Committee’s new spending plan, introduced by a unanimous vote at Wednesday’s regular meeting.

The local budget is set for a public hearing on April 11 at 7:30 p.m. at town hall 2700 Allaire Rd.

The $34,828,782.70 budget is $128,459.30 less than last year’s $34,957,242 spending plan, a decrease of about .37 percent. 

It is supported by a $25,118,751.23 tax levy, up from last year’s $24,657,924 tax burden, an increase of $460,827.23 or about 1.87 percent.

The new tax rate of 66.7 cent for each $100 of property value is 1.9 cents higher than the 2011 rate of 64.8 for each $100, an increase of 2.93 percent.

On a home assessed at $310,000 – the township average – the municipal tax bill will be about $2,067.70 under the proposed spending plan. That’s an increase of $58.90 from last year’s $2,008.80 bill.

The municipal tax bill is only one portion of the overall tax burden, which also includes school district, county and fire district taxes.

Township committee members were quick to point out that the size and cost of municipal government has shrunk under the proposed spending plan.

“We have contained the employee cost,’’ Committeeman Clinton Hoffman said. “Salary and wages have gone down.’’

The tax increase represents a dramatic reduction in the amount of ratables for the several years, totally about $110 million, according to Deputy Mayor Todd Luttman.

“So our revenue has been decreased, causing the increase in our taxes,’’ Luttman said.