Township Manager Matt Watkins presented a budget that includes a mind-boggling 15.8 percent tax hike.
The proposed $48.8 million spending plan, presented by Township Manager Matt Watkins, is $4.54 million larger — or 10.4 percent — than last year’s $43.8 million budget, outstripping the increase in revenue anticipated even with the rather drastic increase in the amount of surplus being included as revenue.
Much of the spending increase is take up by three areas — pensions (up $1.518 million), salaries (up $1.26 million) and the amount set aside to cover unpaid taxes ($1.21 million) — which might seem to let the township off the hook. After all, those increases are either prudent (the tax collection fund) or mandated by the state.
But it shouldn’t. The tax reform discussion swirling around the state is about moderating tax hikes and finding ways to control spending. The question the council needs to ask is what would be more offensive to South Brunswick residents — a reduction in some services or the $180 the tax hike will cost them (this doesn’t take into account any increase in school or county taxes).
My suggestion is that the council set a goal of cutting the proposed tax increase to 4 cents — which will require it to find about $1.4 million in cuts or new revenue. But it should do that without touching anymore of the surplus than has already been included.
It should then identify the cuts and hold a series of public forums explaining the proposals and their impacts on programs and tax bills and then put the question to residents — what would you do?
South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick
Hank Kalet 