Budget creation a tough job

Wantage — With the pronouncement that this is “by far the most difficult budget the township has ever had to deal with,” Wantage administrator Jim Doherty introduced the township’s proposed 2010 municipal budget during the April 15 township committee meeting. The proposed budget of $5.36 million is $173,443 less than the current spending plan of $5,54 million. Under the proposal, the local tax rate would rise about 4 cents to 24 cents. This translates to an approximate increase of $105 for the typical taxpayer on the local line of their bill, Doherty said. The tax rate is based on 1 cent per $100 of assessed value, and the price of an average home in Wantage is $322,500. Cuts The 2010 spending plan includes a 20 percent across the board cut in all departmental operating budgets, a flat budget for all operational utilities, a flat budget for all professional costs, a flat budget for all public safety costs and cuts in salary expenditures due to attrition and to laying off two employees from the Department of Public Works. “It has not been an easy time for us,” said Wantage’s Deputy mayor Bill DeBoer. “We gave notice to two employees that their jobs would be terminated as of May 1. We hate to do that — we’re doing everything we can to get through this economy we’re in now, and to keep the taxes as low as we can for the taxpayers.” Appropriations The total budget appropriations for 2010 are $6.66 million, which is $117,000 higher than the $6.55 million in 2009’s budget. Because the township had an increase of delinquent taxpayers, it had to up its reserve for uncollected taxes, according to state law. That pushed the total budget figure, Doherty said. “Some think we should give back as much surplus as we can in order to offset the tax burden,” Doherty said. “Last year we were able to use $537,500, but this year we are only able to use $350,000. This is the second-worst amount in recent history. In this economy, we are getting down to rock bottom.” After using the $350,000 in surplus to help offset the tax burden in 2010, there is a remaining balance of $331,179 in surplus, Doherty said. Incoming Expected general revenues for 2010 are $3.2 million. That’s a decrease of $377,000 compared to 2009’s amount of $3.6 million. The drop in revenues can be mainly accounted for by the decrease in surplus, along with a decrease in state aid of almost $233,000 and also an anticipated drop of $62,000 in construction fees, Doherty said. “Could more cuts be made? Yes,” Doherty said. “Only, though, at the expense of existing service here in Wantage. As much as I dislike this budget as it has been presented, it is, under the statute of the state of New Jersey, the best that could be presented.” A hearing on the budget and tax resolution will be held at the township municipal building on May 27 at 7 p.m.