Township Tax Levy Stays Same in Proposed '13 Budget

Residents would receive roughly the same municipal tax bills this year as they did last year under the proposed 2013 township budget.

The township's 2013 budget, as introduced by Mayor David Mayer during Monday night's Township Council meeting, calls for the same exact tax levy as the 2012 spending plan's.

"I'm very proud to say that for four years in a row, we are introducing a budget that holds the line on taxes," Mayer said. "We've worked hard over these last three-and-a-half years to straighten out our township's finances, to upgrade our bond rating to an A+."

The $53,489,254 spending plan is to be supported by a $37,346,064 local tax levy—the same tax revenue called for to support $51,616,205 in appropriations for 2012—Business Administrator Tom Cardis said.

In fact, as Mayer pointed out, the township's tax levy has been the same going back to the fiscal year 2010 budget.

A public hearing on the 2013 budget has been scheduled for Monday, March 25.

An exact tax rate in support of the 2013 township budget has not yet been calculated.

Cardis noted the rate, which would impact municipal tax bills, could go up or down a bit based on whether there was an increase or decrease in the municipal ratable base. He stressed any change would "not be significant" either way.

The 2012 municipal budget's tax rate came in at about 82.4¢ per $100 of assessed property value, for an annual tax bill of about $1,648 for a home assessed at $200,000.

The township's 2012 budget was not adopted by Council until May.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is to deliver his state budget address Tuesday afternoon. That address will likely provide a clearer picture on how much money municipalities and school districts can expect from Trenton.

Last year, Gloucester Township received $5,106,459 from the state—the same amount it received in support of its 2011 budget.