Middle Township

COURT HOUSE — Middle Township Committee introduced a $21.3-million budget on Monday. Of the total, $10.8 million would be raised by local taxes. Despite the proposed increase, this year’s budget is a bit smaller than last year’s $21.5 million.

The budget includes a 3.9 percent, or 1.2-cent tax rate increase, from 32 cents in 2008 to 33.2 cents this year. According to township Administrator Mark Mallet, the tax hike is .7 cents less than the 1.9 cents allowed by state tax cap regulations.

For each $100,000 of assessed value, a property owner would pay $332 in local taxes or $12 more than last year.

Mallett said the township would be getting over $100,000 less from the state than last year.

He also noted that the township has not proposed any cuts in local services. He said committee members were making sacrifices such as eliminating their health benefits and their $1,500 Board of Health stipends.

“Township Committee and the department heads have been aggressive in cutting spending wherever possible to limit the impact on the taxpayers,” Mallett told the Herald.

According to Mallett, non-union township employees received 2 percent payroll increases and no layoffs are proposed. Salaries and wages for the township’s 232 employees were its biggest expense at $8.3 million. Of that total, $4.4 million goes towards police salaries.

Mallett said some highlights of some proposed capital projects include purchase of:

• The former firehouse adjacent to Township Hall on South Boyd Street, Court House
• Police sport utility vehicles
• Police in-car video system
• New roof on Township Hall

Last year, the township spent $1.5 million on capital improvements. This year it has budgeted for $1.1 million.

Township Committee will have a detailed review of the budget at an April 6 work session at 4 p.m. in Township Hall, 33 Mechanic St. A public hearing on the budget will follow on May 4 at 6 p.m.

Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com