"We ... have some infrastructure needs, our roads are really deteriorating, our public buildings need attention," the mayor said at Saturday's first budget hearing. "I think we're falling behind on our infrastructure repair."
During the hearing, in which several departments presented their preliminary budget requests, Deluca said the township may have to "rethink" the past policy of adding new debt only when old debt is retired, and at a rate of 80% of the previous debt.
Township Committee member India Larrier said, "I would have to look very, very hard at changing that formula."
The mayor also said recent state-level meetings offered no hope for any funding help from Trenton, adding, "I think we're on our own and the school board is on our own for a few years and that means we're going to have to keep the taxes down as low as possible."
Deluca vowed to keep the increase at the state-mandated 2% limit, adding that the TC will not seek to use any of the loopholes that allow some increases beyond the 2% in certain areas.
Last year's $41.52 million municipal budget included an average tax increase of 1.96% or $82 per home.
"There's no more important job than we have ... right now, and that is crafting a budget which provides the services that people expect and desire and at the same time keeping any tax increase as low as possible," Deluca said. "This really goes to the ability of people being able to stay in our community."
He also addressed the recent property value reassessment, stating, "This is a year we had a reassessment revaluation. This is a year when there is a natural dislocation of people's taxes...any increase just magnifies those differences."
The next budget hearing is set for next Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017.
I don't believe a word he says
ReplyDelete