Committee to Vote to Adopt Municipal Budget Thursday
Taxes would increase $63.24 for the year for the average Lacey homeowner
The Township Committee will vote to adopt the municipal budget, which will raise taxes $63.24 for the year for the average Lacey homeowner at its 7 p.m. meeting on Thursday, June 14. Visit Lacey Patch for live coverage.
During last month’s meeting, the committee held a public hearing but tabled adopting the budget after the state requested the township first borrow money rather than self-funding the emergency appropriation that was approved in December 2011 to reimburse furloughed employees.
“This does happen sometimes,” Township Attorney Lauren Staiger said. “It is procedurally fine. It’s just a little glitch that we hit.”
The state reviews municipal budgets every three years — this year being Lacey’s, Chief Financial Officer Adrian Fanning said. The township got the go-ahead to hold the public hearing on the budget but could not move forward with the adoption.
During the fall of 2011, the township faced a legal battle against two local unions after the Committee served 22 furlough days to employees in 2010. The Teamsters Union Local 97 won through arbitration, and the Communications Workers of America Local 1088 reached a settlement agreement with the township, forcing the Committee to authorize an emergency appropriation in the amount of $218,250.
The township is required by the state to borrow the $218,250 that will go back to employees prior to adopting the budget, Fanning said. Once the township has a note, then the Committee can approve the budget.
With that mishap taken care of, the budget is back on the agenda.
The governing body unanimously voted in April to introduce the spending plan that will raise $9,767,233.13 via taxation. The average homeowner, with property assessed at $317,924, will pay $5.27 more a month or $63.24 per year.
In May, Committeeman Sean Sharkey and Committeewoman Helen DelaCruz continued to seek additional cuts to lessen the tax burden.
Chief Financial Officer Adrian Fanning said that further cuts would result in shortfalls by the end of the year.
DelaCruz gave up her $7,020 salary.
Below are the basic figures for the 2012 fiscal year budget:
|
General Appropriations |
$25,170,621.05 |
|
Reserve for Uncollected Taxes |
$1,354,550.73 |
|
Total General Appropriations |
$26,545,171.85 |
|
Less Anticipated Revenues |
$16,757,938.72 |
|
Amount to be Raised by Taxes |
$9,767,233.13 |
Abby Normal
8:19 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012
I am content with that increase. It is certainly not worth sacrificing our great services, parks, and schools for $5 or $6 a month. Well done! :)
Bob Smith
9:23 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Well I am not happy at all with this budget. I dont feel I get anything for the money that I pay and I feel that the taxpayers are constantly ignored over our real needs versus wants. Since all of the township employees live in the town I feel that in a sense of gratitude that they still have their jobs and that they got 22 extra free paid days off last year that they should all give back 5% of their salary this year to the town to offset any tax increases. This is only fair since we the taxpayers lost 22 days of work done by these individuals and got nothing in return except a bill for no services rendered. If they do not agree to this they should just let 20% of the workforce go as we are going to have to do this next year anyway.. I am sick and tired of our elected officials not listening to the taxpayers and just doing what they want. Its time to pay the piper...
tom
9:30 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012
congrats and hats off to helen for doing her part!! the rest of the committee could and should follow her lead. why should they draw a salary while the tax payer pays more? $5 or $6 a month means alot to someone who does'nt have it!!!! we are still strugling very hard with this current economy and the rate of foreclosures has not slowed!! more politicians need to stop feeding off the backs of their employers - us the tax payer!!!! way to go helen!!!!
Abby Normal
11:36 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Tom, I agree. Helen's gesture means a lot, others should follow, and those other public servants that have 5, 6, 8 government jobs should be shown the door.
However, I just don't understand what services people want to be cut/eliminated to lower their tax bill. Prices of everything go up every year and just because it's a tax to pay for it doesn't mean that will keep the price low. I can see going to one trash and one recycle day a week instead of 2 trash days and 1 recycle, that may help. Otherwise, there is not one iota I want to give up for what we get. Should the library go?
Besides, we have it better than MANY municipalities in NJ; we get the tax offset from the power plant. From personal observation and market trends, there were a number of people who bought too much home for their income. Scale down, not everyone should be in a McMantion. There are too many in Lacey who don't know the term "modest."
GreenJacketBoy
11:36 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Tom.
So the town committee should work for free so you can save 10 cents. Give me a break. I know a clerk at Shop Rite is a big time job in this town but enough is enough.
Bob Smith
10:24 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Yes it was a sweet gesture by Helen but $7000 is not going to make much difference. They really need to make serious cuts and No one on that body ahs any courage or will to do the right thing for the people by the people... Its a sad state of affairs for sure
paddler
2:28 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
@Abby Normal we won't have that tax offset for much longer. We should think ahead and cut costs and trim bloated town administration in anticipation of that day. BTW, my taxes have more than doubled in the 10 years I have lived in Lacey - they are now more than my mortgage.. I know how to live within my budget. The town council doesn't.
GreenJacketBoy
11:40 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Helen's gesture was nothing but grandstanding. Do you know how many free meals she gets from the seniors alone? And come on that idiotic statement about a 10 % across the board budget cut...I was even embarrassed over that one.
Chief Wahoo
5:04 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
the part that everyone always misses .....this is $70 BUT doesnt include the county increase and school increases ......soon you are easily over $200 when the property taxes SHOULD BE GOING DOWN IN WHAT IS A DEPRESSION !!!!!!
PROPERTY TAX REVOLT OR ONE DAY YOU MAY WAKE UP HOMELESS !
lacey voter
5:29 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
my taxes went up $70.00 n for the the August ;payment
diane
10:37 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Bravo Helen.............you get it!
GreenJacketBoy
11:41 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Helen does Vegan too!
Favorite Teacher
11:12 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Helen is my hero~ a true patriot.
Gentlemen?? Your move.
GreenJacketBoy
11:53 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Hey Teach
How about you chipping in a few more bucks for your benefits. The biggest expense by far in any of the budgets is teacher compensation and benefits.
William J Moss
1:24 am on Friday, June 15, 2012
Please remember where your taxes go . 14.10%to the township . 22.82% to ocean county . 63.08%to your schools . Are you sure who you want to blame for our high taxes.
tracey hosmer
1:41 am on Friday, June 15, 2012
yes bill we heard it the first 100 times you said it