Roosevelt taxpayers could see $467 increase
Spending increases anticipated for attorney, planning expenses
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer

"The increase we foresee is quite reasonable." - Peggy Malkin

ROOSEVELT - The average borough homeowner can expect a tax increase of about $35 per month this year if the proposed municipal budget passes.

The Borough Council introduced its $836,635 spending plan for 2007-08 at its May 29 meeting. Councilwoman Pat Moser abstained from introducing the budget, while all of the other council members voted for the measure.

The proposed budget includes a $97,490 increase over last year's budget, according to the budget worksheet the council provided during its meeting.

Councilwoman Peggy Malkin said at the meeting that this year's budget includes substantial cuts in many areas. She said the tax rate has remained stable in the borough over the past few years, but this year residents can expect an increase.

"The increase we foresee is quite reasonable," she said.

Properties in Roosevelt were revaluated last year. In 2006, the total assessed value of all borough properties amounted to approximately $36.3 million. The average residential property value was $100,471, and the tax rate was 76 cents per $100 of assessed value. That means the average homeowner paid approximately $768 in taxes to cover the municipal portion of the tax rate last year, according to the budget worksheet.

This year, properties in the borough are assessed at having a total value of $95.9 million, and the average residential property value increased to $268,748. The proposed budget would set the municipal portion of the tax rate at 44 cents per $100 of assessed value. This means the average homeowner can expect to pay $1,185 to cover the municipal portion of the total tax rate this year, according to the budget worksheet.

The increase for the average homeowner amounts to $417, which results in the monthly increase of about $35.

This year, $640,303 of the spending is within CAP and $196,332 is outside of CAP, according to the budget worksheet.

The proposed budget will rely on $245,000 in anticipated surplus, which is $57,800 less than the surplus the borough used last year. The budget also relies on total general revenues of $836,635, which will accumulate through taxes, various grants, energy tax receipts, recreation fees, etc., according to the budget worksheet.

Within the CAP portion of the budget, 20 funding areas have been reduced since last year. Some of the areas that have seen the greatest reductions are the fire department, public works, recreation and the environmental commission.

The fire department's spending has been reduced from $29,000 in 2006 to $6,500 this year, which is a decrease of $22,500, according to the budget worksheet.

The Department of Public Works will see an overall decrease in spending of $7,875. Spending on streets and roads alone has been reduced $6,500, while other cuts were made to solid waste and recycling expenses and vehicle maintenance, according to the budget worksheet.

Department of Parks and Recreation expenses will be reduced $2,450 to $10,700, not including salaries and wages this year, according to the worksheet.

The Environmental Commission will receive $9,685 this year, which is $2,000 less than it received last year, according to the budget worksheet.

Areas with major increases in the proposed budget include costs for legal services and costs related to the Planning Board.

Legal costs in the borough will jump from $15,000 in 2006 to $67,900 in 2007 for a total increase of $52,900, according to the worksheet.

Planning Board expenses including salaries and wages totaled $23,300 in 2006 and will rise to $54,800 for a total increase of $31,500, according to the worksheet.

Increases outside of the CAP include budgeting for an interlocal agreement with the Hightstown Zoning officer for $13,000, which the borough did not do last year since it had its own zoning officer at that time. There is also an emergency appropriation of $10,000 included outside of CAP.

The capital improvement fund will also increase by $10,000 to $30,000 this year, according to the worksheet.

To help offset the property tax increase created by this year's municipal budget, Malkin said during the meeting that the state is offering a homestead property tax rebate to any homeowner or tenant with an income below $250,000 per year.

Detailed information about the increases and decreases in various parts of the budget will be provided in a follow-up article as Malkin, who is the chair of the borough's finance committee, could not be reached for comment prior to press time.

The Borough Council has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed budget June 28.

Councilwoman