Residents will see a $25 decrease in municipal taxes with the approved budget.
Cinnaminson Township Committee voted unanimously to introduce the 2017 municipal budget at last week’s meeting.
The total budget is $15.1 million, with $9.8 million to be raised through taxes.
While the total budget has increased from last year’s $14.5 million total, local taxes will decrease. Residents with the average home valued at $232,200 will save approximately $25 on municipal taxes in 2017 compared to 2016, paying a total of $1,431. The amount to be raised through taxes will decrease by $189,394 and the tax levy will decrease by 1.1 cent.
Sixty percent of the revenue for the 2017 budget will come through property taxes, 20 percent from local revenue, 12 percent from state aid and 8 percent from surplus.
According to Township CFO Julia Edmondson, the township was able to reduce the budget amount to be raised through taxes by building the surplus.
Edmondson gave a presentation on the budget, explaining to residents in attendance what they get for their money. Public safety compromises 23 percent of this year’s budget and last year, public safety entities in the township responded to more than 1,400 emergency medical calls, arrested 640 warranted persons and conducted 394 resident checks for vacationing residents, among other things. The budget also allows for the maintenance of seven Cinnaminson parks totaling more than 125 acres, snow removal, mulch delivery and economic development strategies.
The budget is $411,852 under the state tax levy cap and $900,137 under the state appropriation cap. It utilizes 22.15 percent of the surplus — the lowest percentage of available surplus used in the past 10 years.
Edmondson noted that municipal taxes in comparison to the average assessed home value are lower than many neighboring communities including Delran, Riverton, Palmyra, Delanco and Maple Shade. She also noted that Cinnaminson’s bond rating improved from A+ to AA+.
The budget supports all current operations with no layoffs or service reductions and includes nearly $1 million in roadway improvements, including paving and signage.
In addition to public safety investments, the budget includes technology upgrades for the Cinnaminson Library and a new soccer field at Memorial Park — a combined cost of approximately $100,000.
Mayor Anthony Minniti recognized the work of police, public works, administrative staff, support staff and director of public safety Mickey King for putting in extra work and “doing the same for less,” adding that Cinnaminson’s services are the same or better as last year with less cost to the residents.
“As the township grows and as we have more houses and more business, there’s more expenses,” Minniti said. “In the end, the amount that you’re paying is decreasing.”
