By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
MILLSTONE – The Township Committee has introduced a $6.41 million budget to fund the operation of Millstone Township this year and a public hearing on the spending plan has been scheduled for 8 p.m. May 4 in the governing body’s meeting room, Millstone Road. The committee may adopt the budget that evening.
Committee members did not comment on the spending plan when they introduced it on April 6. Mayor Bob Kinsey and committee members Gary Dorfman, Nancy Grbelja and Fiore Masci voted to introduce the budget. Deputy Mayor Michael Kuczinski was absent.
According to Chief Financial Officer Annette Murphy, the $6.41 million budget will be supported by the collection of $2.59 million in taxes from residential and commercial property owners in Millstone. Other revenues include the use of $891,893 in surplus funds (savings) and the receipt of $841,753 in state aid.
Millstone’s 2015 budget totaled $6.21 million and was supported through the collection of $2.59 million in property taxes, $832,663 in surplus funds and $841,753 in state aid.
In 2015, the municipal tax rate was 15 cents per $100 of assessed valuation and the average home assessment was $496,682. The owner of that home paid $745 in municipal taxes.
In 2016, the municipal tax rate is projected to be 14 cents per $100 of assessed valuation and the average home assessment is $532,623. The owner of that home will continue to pay $745 in municipal taxes.
An individual will pay more or less in municipal taxes based on the assessment of his property and/or home.
In addition to municipal taxes, a property owner’s tax bill also includes Millstone Township K-8 School District taxes, Monmouth County taxes, a fire district tax and other assessments.
Capital improvements for 2016 will be the acquisition of a 2.5-acre property that could be used for affordable housing ($150,000), technology upgrades ($50,000), road improvements ($840,000) and the acquisition of vehicles and equipment for the Department of Public Works, according to Murphy.
The technology upgrades include copy machines for municipal offices, a security system at Millstone’s parks, and improvements for Millstone’s Public Educational Government access channel.
The road improvements include projects on Stillhouse Road from Sweetmans Lane to Baird Road, Roberts Road, Emmons Drive and Scotto Drive, the south end of Battleground Road and miscellaneous improvements. A $225,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation is expected to be received in connection with the Stillhouse Road improvements.
A bond ordinance to cover the acquisition of the affordable housing property was adopted by committee members on March 16. Bond ordinances for the capital improvements were introduced on April 23 and are expected to be considered for adoption on May 4.
The budget includes the following selected appropriations:
- Municipal debt service, $1 million
- Insurance, $933,950
- Municipal general government, $896,209
- Public works, $889,912
- Reserve for uncollected taxes, $830,000
- Deferred charges, $368,000
- Insurance, $336,455
- Statutory expenditures, $271,395
- Utilities and bulk purchases, $217,000
Millstone has 26 full-time employees and nine part-time employees. Personnel costs account for $2.2 million of the township’s $6.41 million budget for 2016.
