TAX NEWS - 2010

New Jersey Tax: Bernards residents may comment on local budget with 2.6 percent tax increase

BERNARDS — Bernards residents will have an opportunity for another look, and a chance to comment, on a proposed $39.5 million municipal budget that would raise this year's municipal tax bill by about $42 on the average township home.

The budget is scheduled to be presented for a public hearing and a vote for final adoption at the Township Committee meeting scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Township officials introduced a proposed municipal budget in May that would raise the amount of funds taxpayers must contribute to the total budget for the first time since 2005. At that time, Mayor Scott Spitzer said the township had to raise the taxpayer contribution this year to absorb a $500,000 loss in state aid, as well as increases in the employee pensions and health benefits costs.

Even so, the amount that taxpayers must contribute to the annual municipal budget still is about $131,000 less than in 2005, said Township Administrator Bruce McArthur. ""That's quite an accomplishment,'' he said.

However, McArthur said there is no guarantee the township will be able to remain at that level in future years, especially if annual state aid contributions continue to decline.

He said the township has eliminated about 11 positions during the past three years, and will continue to look to make municipal operations as efficient as possible.

If approved by the Township Committee, the municipal portion of local taxes would be $1,674 on an average home assessed at $581,191. The municipal tax bill for the same home was $1,632 in 2009, according to township figures posted on the township website.