This marks the second consecutive year that council passed a budget with an overall tax decrease.
Moorestown Township Council unanimously adopted the 2017 municipal budget at the Monday, July 10 meeting. This marks the second consecutive year council passed a budget with an overall tax decrease.
“The budget will continue to provide the programs and services residents have continued to enjoy and expect,” township manager Tom Merchel said.
The municipal tax rate will decrease 0.25 percent from last year, dropping from 41 cents per $100 of assessed property value to 40.9 cents. The average assessed home of $448,000 will pay $1,832 in local purpose taxes with $1,662 going to the municipal budget with approximately $170 going to the library. By comparison, the average assessed home of $441,700 paid a municipal purpose tax of $1,647.54 last year.
Moorestown’s current budget appropriations total $24.3 million, which translates to an increase of $453,000 over 2016. The overall increase will, however, be offset by a $14.25 million increase in ratables as well as $432,247 in anticipated additional revenues.
Deputy Mayor Stacey Jordan praised this year’s budget for cutting taxes while still maintaining the police force, improving infrastructure and providing funding for programming at the library and recreation department.
“I’m excited that we could get this done but still [be] fiscally responsible,” Jordan said.
Council member Victoria Napolitano echoed Jordan’s sentiments.
“Yet another decrease in taxes, which is another promise kept to the voters of Moorestown who have voted time and again to keep your taxes in check because it’s expensive to live in New Jersey,” Napolitano said.
Napolitano said she hopes to see more help from all levels of government from the school board up to the state to enable residents to continue to live and raise their families in Moorestown by following suit and not taxing residents out of the state.
In other news:
• Council adopted an ordinance authorizing the issuance of $570,000 in bonds for the replacement of water mains and related expenses. Mains will be replaced along North Church Street, Prospect Avenue, South Washington Avenue, West Second Street, Mannion Avenue and Fairview Avenue.
During public comments on the ordinance, resident Susan Smetona inquired about road resurfacing following main replacements. She said along the street she lives on, the mains were replaced a couple of months ago, and neighbors are still waiting for their roads to be repaired following the work.
“Does that include resurfacing the streets?” Smetona asked in reference to related expenses.
Merchel said following the replacement, the roads have to settle for at least 60 days before they can resurface the roads.
“I feel your pain,” Napolitano said sympathetically, acknowledging she lives nearby Smetona and has been awaiting neighborhood road resurfacing as well.
• Council also passed a resolution approving the “2016 Annual Report of Audit.” Merchel said the important thing is Moorestown is in good financial condition.
“The best part is there were no comment recommendations,” Merchel said.
For that reason, Merchel said there will be no need to do a corrective financial action plan.
• Both the 2017 municipal budget and the 2016 report of audit are available for review on Moorestown’s website at http://www.moorestown.nj.us/. The next council meeting will be held on Monday, July 24 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
