MANALAPAN – The Township Committee has introduced a $34.49 million budget to fund the operation of Manalapan during 2019.
The budget was introduced during the March 27 meeting on a unanimous vote from Mayor Susan Cohen, Deputy Mayor Jack McNaboe, Committeewoman Mary Ann Musich, Committeeman Kevin Uniglicht and Committeeman Barry Jacobson.
A public hearing on the budget has been scheduled for 8 p.m. April 24 in the municipal building, Route 522.
In 2018, the municipal budget was adopted by the committee at a total of $33.8 million. The revised budget after certain items were added in accordance with state law was $33.91 million.
The 2018 budget was supported through the collection of $22.35 million in a local tax levy paid by Manalapan’s residential and commercial property owners. The township received $3.87 million in state aid and applied $3.67 million from its surplus fund as revenue in the budget.
The 2019 budget that totals $34.49 million will be supported by a tax levy of $22.96 million to be paid by Manalapan’s residential and commercial property owners. State aid will remain unchanged at $3.87 million and the committee will apply $3.5 million from surplus as revenue in the budget.
Regarding the impact of the municipal budget on property taxes over three years, in 2017, the average home in Manalapan was assessed at $413,631, the tax rate was 34.1 cents per $100 of assessed valuation and the owner of that home paid about $1,410 in municipal taxes.
In 2018, the average home in Manalapan was assessed at $428,076, the tax rate was 33.6 cents per $100 of assessed valuation and the owner of that home paid about $1,438 in municipal taxes.
In 2019, the average home in Manalapan is assessed at $448,700, the tax rate is projected to be 33 cents per $100 of assessed valuation and the owner of that home will pay $1,480 in municipal taxes.
Municipal officials said that for every $1 in total taxes a Manalapan property owner pays, 17 percent (i.e., 17 cents) goes to the township, 15 percent (15 cents) goes to Monmouth County, 45 percent (45 cents) goes to the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District, 20 percent (20 cents) goes to the Freehold Regional High School District, 2 percent (2 cents) goes to a municipal fire district and 1 percent (1 cent) goes to other assessments.
The amount of taxes a property owner pays is determined by the assessed valuation of his home and/or property and the tax rate that is set by each taxing entity.
In a press release, the members of the committee said they are “confident this budget reflects the township’s ability to provide consistent financial stability, new economic development initiatives and a comprehensive, steady capital improvement program while mitigating the increases in statutory costs, solid waste and recycling tonnage rates.”
Manalapan officials said, “This budget continues to maintain a healthy and stable reserve position with a low debt burden, as well as consistent, stable funding through efficient and effective management and governance.
“The Township Committee, with this 2019 municipal budget, continues to provide a high quality of municipal services to residents while minimizing the financial impact to the township’s taxpayers.
“The proposed budget will maintain essential services such as law enforcement, snow removal, and leaf and brush collection. It will also include the return of the street sweeping program and will continue to provide recreational programs, senior citizen programs, health and human services, building inspections, and garbage and recycling collection,” municipal officials said.
