By MICHAEL NUNES
Staff Writer
SPOTSWOOD — The Borough Council moved forward last week with its 2016 budget.
The total operating budget in 2016 would be $10.39 million, which is partially funded by a municipal tax levy of $6,669,848.
“After going line by line through the budget, we ended up with a $64.88 increase for the average home owner. That is a little more than we usually have,” said Borough Council President Curtis Stollen during the March 21 meeting.
Spotswood’s tax rate is expected to increase by 2.5 cents from 87.8 cents to 90.3 cents per every $100 of home assessment. According to the primarily budget, a home assessed at the borough average of $254,661 would have a tax levy of $2,299. Municipal taxes do not include school or county taxes.
“There were significant police improvements, and we are also replacing our entire IT server for our police and borough offices — that was $200,000,” Stollen said, adding that the borough’s police accreditation program, as well as HVAC improvements to the municipal building, had to be installed, as well as funds for improving the borough’s parks.
Funding for additional part-time dispatchers is also included in the tentative budget, according to Mayor Nicholas Poliseno.
“There’s a lot that we are achieving other than just maintenance items that we always have to do. That’s why we ended up with the budget we have at this time,” Poliseno said.
Stollen also spoke in regards to Spotswood EMS and the possible ballot question in November to keep the service.
“Just to give you an idea of where we were, four full-time EMTs and a full-time director that alone would be $108 to our budget [for the average homeowner] so we would be at [around] $165 instead of $65 for the average homeowner,” Stollen said, adding that the issue would be put on hold until November and the four possible full-time EMTs would remain part-time.
Earlier this year the council held a public hearing on a plan to abolish Spotswood EMS, citing health insurance costs under the Affordable Care Act. After a public outcry, the council rejected the move and offered to let residents vote in November over whether to keep the ambulance service.
The public hearing as well as the vote for final adoption of the municipal budget is scheduled for April 18.
