A special public meeting is scheduled for April 27 and a public hearing is set for May 10.
Council introduced the township’s 2017 municipal budget on first reading at last week’s meeting. The budget proposes no municipal tax increase.
This year’s proposed total budget amounts to $38.77 million, an increase of approximately $450,000 from the 2016 budget of $38.3 million.
This increase, according to Mayor Joann Gattinelli, is due to an increase in local revenues and fees pertaining to new development, such as abandoned properties, construction fees and permit fees.
In her presentation and address to council, Gattinelli said “the modest increase in appropriations and the expected increase in revenues due to redevelopment and economic development” are what allow the 2016 tax rate to remain the same. If council adopts the proposed budget in May, residents with an average assessed home value of $210,000 would pay approximately $1,380 in municipal tax.
“I am happy to announce that the annual operating budget for 2017 proposes no municipal tax increase without any reduction in municipal services,” Gattinelli said. “In fact, municipal services are being enhanced in order to improve the quality of life that Washington Township residents expect and deserve.”
Last year, the township used $2.3 million of surplus, however, according to Gattinelli, municipal operations ended with a $3.7 million increase, leaving $6.2 million available for this year. The 2017 budget, if adopted, will utilize $2.1 million of surplus, bringing the ending balance to $4.1 million.
“This surplus meets the criteria of our Informal Surplus Policy of between 10 percent and 15 percent of the operating budget,” Gattinelli said. “Also, based on the Informal Surplus Policy, the $2.1 million in surplus used (in 2017) will be reinstated from 2016 reserves of $1.8 million plus projected revenue surplus.”
Total appropriations increased by 1.18 percent, which is below the average cost-of-living increase, according to Gattinelli.
“We have enhanced municipal services, including the implementation of a Human Resources Department, increased IT and cyber security, Shop Washington Township Program and others,” Gattinelli said. “We have also restructured the police hierarchy by eliminating higher paid officers through retirement and replaced them with six new patrol officers.”
The budget includes capital projects such as the continuation of the roads program, funding to make improvements to the police station building, 12 new police vehicles and new software for the zoning and construction department.
“Our first priority is to work in the best interests of the residents who make up our community,” Gattinelli said. “My commitment to the residents is to continue moving the township forward and to do everything in our power to create the quality of life that our residents want and deserve.”
Council scheduled a special public budget meeting for April 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building. No action will be taken, however there will be a public participation portion for those interested in attending. A public hearing on the budget and tax resolution will be held at the Municipal Building on May 10 at 7 p.m. where the budget will be up for adoption.
In other news:
- Gattinelli presented a proclamation for Eagle Scout Court of Honor to recognize Washington Township High School senior Jason Hamilton Thorpe for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Thorpe’s Eagle Scout service project consisted of planning, developing and building a ceremonial fire-pit in Washington Lake Park for the use of the Veteran’s Advisory Board to properly dispose of retired American flags. Thorpe is also a cadet in the WTHS Air Force JROTC and drill team, a member of the National Honor Society.
- Council passed a resolution outlining new guidelines for public portions of council meetings. The resolution included guidelines prohibiting members of the public to yield their time to another speaker and limits individuals to speaking once during a particular public comment period for no more than five minutes. Following the close of a particular public comment period, council and members of the administration have the right to respond to comments and answer questions.
Councilwoman Dana Pasqualone made a motion to amend the guideline pertaining to the limit of individuals speaking only once, requesting it allow multiple comments if they concern new topics, however the motion failed with a 3–2 vote, with Councilwoman Angela Donato and Councilmen Sean Longfellow and Joseph Perry voting no.
