Added to the average $249 increase per home by the school district proposed budget, adopted last weekend, and the average tax hike for Maplewood homeowners this year will be $324.
"The main drivers of our budget this year were increased pension payments, payments for debt," Mayor Vic Deluca said, adding that most other spending areas were flat. "The salary increases were pretty much based on the bargaining unit increases that we negotiated with our unions."
He said $29.7 million of the budget is to be raised from taxes, a 2% tax increase over 2016. That means the average municipal portion of taxes per home went from $3,750 last year to $3,825 in 2017. That does not include the school district taxes.
"We've worked very hard to get this budget down," the mayor said.
He also noted that since the Avalon Bay project on Boyden Avenue is being delayed due to the recent fire there, anticipated tax revenue from that project will not be received until next year, impacting the revenue stream as well.
The complete budget is to be provided on the Township website and at the Township Clerk's office this week.
A public hearing on the budget will be held on April 18.
See the mayor's budget message below:
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