Bernards Twp. Introduces 2013 Budget Asking $300K More in Taxes

Sticking to their pledge of not seeking to borrow money for short- or long-term investments, the Township Committee on Tuesday adopted a $35.14 million municipal budget for 2013 that raises municipal taxes by 1.99 percent, under the 2 percent state cap on budget spending, according to township figures.

The budget would add another $31 in municipal taxes onto an average township home assessed at $587,000 if given final approval following a scheduled May 14 public hearing, said Terri Johnson, the township's CFO.

Overall, since the Bernards Township Library's assessment dropped by about $40,000 from 2012, the proposed increase in the municipal tax levy would be slightly over 1.5 percent, Johnson said at Tuesday's meeting.

Rather than borrowing money by selling bonds, officials have put aside funds in the budget for such costs as a standing snow removal account and to put toward a $2.5 million capital improvements ordinance, also introduced on Tuesday, that includes repairs for 16 roads, truck investments and other major expenses.

The capital improvements ordinance, due to come before the Township Committee again in two weeks, also includes funds from the 2012 budget, said Township Administrator Bruce McArthur.

List of roads due for resurfacing under proposed appropriation of capital funds

According to to Township Engineer Tom Timko, the list of roads due for restoration as part of the capital appropriation include Knollcroft Road; Mine Brook Road from Church Street to Old Coach; Peachtree Road; Homestead Place; Linden Drive; Tamarisk Court; Dawn Drive; Hartley Lane; Doggett Court; Beacon Crest; and Cobble Lane.

McArthur said some of the projects would be coordinated with Bedminster.

The township also filed at application with the state Department of Transportation requesting $400,000 total for repaving Madisonville Road from Route 202 to North Maple Avenue and Pond Hill Road.

Johnson said the proposed budget, up from $35,070,746 in 2012, includes such increases as $335,000 for capital improvements, $100,000 toward part of the cost of reacting to and cleaning up after Hurricane Sandy, $100,000 more in insurance and health benefits costs, and $175,000 to replenish a snow removal budget that had been depleted by some severe winters.

The budget absorbs all those increases even while keeping the total tax levy increase to about $300,000, Johnson said.

McArthur also reported on Tuesday that the township had received a $125,000 insurance payment for some of the costs related to Hurricane Sandy. However, he said that overall, the townshp probably wll end up with a bill of about $600,000 for Sandy-related costs.

The township's share of that likely will be about $400,000, he said. The township is anticipating reimbursement of slightly more than $200,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the total of $600,000, McArthur said.