By MICHAEL BENAVIDES
Staff Writer
MIDDLETOWN — In a unanimous vote, the Middletown Township Council introduced a 2017 municipal budget that will decrease local taxes by nearly 3.49 percent.
For the average homeowner, the new budget would make municipal taxes decrease by $5.31 this year.
“I think our CFO and administration have done a fantastic job,” said Committeeman Kevin M. Settembrino during the meeting that was held on March 20.
The municipal tax levy will decrease by $161,459 under the proposed budget.
“We’ve taken a fine-tooth comb to this budget in order to develop a spending plan that reduces costs without sacrificing core essential services,” said Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger. “We consistently seek ways to further minimize costs, maximize revenues and stretch a dollar.”
The tax decrease comes in part from a snow budget, thanks to a milder winter, stable fuel prices and shared service agreements with other municipalities, officials said. Insurance costs, primarily health insurance, have increased by 3.12 percent.
The township budget makes up 21 percent of the average property bill, with the remaining portion made up of county and school taxes.
