Haddonfield commissioners introduced the proposed municipal budget for 2015 at their meeting last week. For the proposed budget, local taxes will not increase in 2015.
“There is a slight increase of 5 percent to 6 percent over last year’s expenditures, however our revenues are very healthy and the tax increase for municipal purposes will be zero. So there will be no tax increase for our second year in a row, so we are happy about that,” Mayor Jeff Kasko said.
The proposed borough budget totals $16.2 million of which $10.1 million will be raised through property taxes. The local purpose tax rate will remain the same at 48.7 cents per $100 of assessed property value.
The tax rate is remaining the same as last year despite a $2.2 million loss in ratables. The 2015 budget, minus grant expenditures, increases $914,204, or 5.98 percent over 2014. This is made up for with healthy revenues and surplus. The amount to be raised by taxation is decreasing by $19,386.
For the fifth year in a row, the borough is anticipating a flat rate of $981,000 in state funding.
Employee salaries, benefits and pension payments, totaling $7.8 million, make up 48 percent of the budget. This amount increased by $346,586 mainly due to cost shifting of expenses from the water and sewer utility.
The borough’s annual road program continues to play a large part in the annual capital budget, with the funding of $1.4 million in cash for road reconstruction and design. Through proceeds from the sale of the water and sewer utility, the borough will be able to liquidate most of its current debt. This has enabled the borough to increase the amount of cash it is using for the road program, which will allow it to complete more roads. Commissioners authorized for the receipt of sealed bids for the 2015 road program at their meeting as well.
There were no cuts of employees, services or programs from the budget.
From the budget release, commissioners said, “we believe this is a responsible budget that reflects the reality of current state fiscal requirements and the economic conditions facing all taxpayers. As always, we strive to provide the best possible level of service within the fiscal constraints of this cap and the uncertainty of some revenue and grant receipts. While this is neither a perfect situation nor a perfect budget, we have made every effort to fund basic, necessary services at the levels supported by taxpayers and state law.”
Copies of the budget are available for review at the clerk’s office and at the public library, temporarily located at 123 Kings Highway East.
Kasko will hold a budget forum meeting on Thursday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m. All residents interested in learning more about the budget are welcome to attend. The public hearing and approval of the budget will be at the Tuesday, June 9 commissioners meeting beginning at 7:30 p.m.
“We all worked hard on the budget, including our CFO, our administrator and our department heads, who I want to thank,” Kasko said.
In other news:
• Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance on second reading allowing for a handicap parking spot in front of the 65 Club house on Rhoads Avenue.
• An annual ordinance was approved on first reading, which established the salaries and wages for certain borough employees. The second reading and public hearing will be at the next commissioners meeting on Tuesday, May 26.
• Event permits for the Memorial Day Parade on May 25 and Toastmaster in the Court on June 6 were approved. Permission was also granted to hold fireworks displays on Friday, July 3, with a rain date for Saturday, July 11, for Independence Day celebrations.
