Vernon taxes to go up just 1.49%

VERNON-Vernon's taxes will rise only 1.49 percent this year under the municipal budget introduced at the July 25 council meeting. The cost to the average homeowner with a home with a tax value of $116,900 will be an additional $63.15. The total town budget is $19.7 million. The increase is the lowest in the past four years. In 2002, taxes rose by 7.3 percent; in 2003, by 6.9 percent; and in 2004, by 3.7 percent, according to Councilman Neil Desmond. "We owe our ability to hold the tax increase down to a concerted team effort, lots of hard work, and excellent capital projects. It's incredible that we were able to achieve what we hoped to do," Desmond said. The township hasn't closed the books on the budget. Residents still will have a chance to voice their opinions at the Aug. 8 council meeting, when a final vote is scheduled. "We couldn't ask for much more, given the increases in steel, gas, and other costs," said Mayor Ira Weiner "People in Vernon are good about paying their taxes on time, and we've been doing better and better at getting every last dollar in here," Weiner went on. "Maybe next year or the year after, we won't have to have any tax increase because we've brought in the ratables." Weiner credited Township Manager Don Teolis for his work in putting the budget together. Final budget figures and the tax rate had been in question until the state passed its budget at the beginning of the month. Until then, Vernon didn't know how much state aid it would get.