Committee also delayed a decision on tree removal regulations
Cinnaminson Township Committee approved a 2018 municipal budget May 21 with no change in property taxes for residents.
Homeowners with an averaged assessed property of $232,300 will pay $1,431 in local purpose tax under the $15 million budget.
“We are having no increase to the local purpose tax and still maintaining all services,” said Julia Edmondson, the township’s chief financial officer, during a budget presentation at the May 21 Township Committee meeting.
Edmondson said the township is utilizing $1.2 million in surplus for the budget, which is about 19 percent of the available surplus. It’s the lowest percentage the municipality has used in 10 years, she said.
In 2013, the township’s budget used 80 percent of available surplus, according to Edmondson.
“We made a conscious effort to raise surplus over the past five years,” she said.
Edmondson said 27 percent of the $15 million budget is devoted to general government spending, while 25 percent is set aside for public safety and 17 percent for public works.
The majority, 54 percent, of the budget’s revenue is from property taxes. Nearly 30 percent of the money comes from local revenue, and state aid makes up 11 percent of the budget. Surplus covers the remaining 7 percent.
During her budget presentation, Edmondson compared Cinnaminson’s tax levy with the rates imposed by neighboring towns.
She said a Riverton resident with an averaged assessed home of $232,300 would pay nearly $1,600 in municipal taxes. A Palmyra resident would pay around $2,600, Edmondson said.
“You can see you get a lot for your money here,” she added.
The budget passed unanimously, and there were no comments from the public.
In other news, Township Committee tabled an ordinance that would have regulated the removal of curbside trees that create liability issues.
The proposal, which was up for a public hearing and final adoption at the May 21 meeting, would have put the responsibility and cost of removing a tree that is disturbing the sidewalk on the homeowner.
Several residents spoke about the new regulations, and there was discussion over whether residents should be required to remove the stump as well.
“It’s a hardship on the residents to deal with that,” former Committeeman William “Ben” Young said about the stump portion of the proposal.
Young suggested that Township Committee revise the ordinance to remove the obligation for residents to remove the stump.
The township would be responsible to remove a curbside tree if it is dead or dying, disturbing utility lines or affecting underground lines or sewer systems.
Deputy Mayor Donald Brauckmann voted to table the proposal but said he would like to expedite the process because there are several issues with trees around the township.
“It shouldn’t take long” to reconsider the ordinance, he said.
The proposal is scheduled to come up again for a public hearing at the June 4 Township Committee work session meeting.
