Colts Neck has finialized it’s budget according to an article in the Asbury Park Press.
The budget, which will is to be adopted on April 29th calls for just a 1 cent increase to the municipal tax rate.
Colts Neck Mayor Ben Forester blamed the increase on the decline in state aid :
“In general, the challenges faced by the Township Committee in preparing this year’s budget were much more on the revenue side, rather than appropriations,” Forester explained. “The continued erosion of state aid, less available surplus, lower interest rates and a slightly lower tax collection rate were mitigated by reductions in most budgets, less capital spending and the use of additional surplus to offset the tax increase.”
This just goes to show you that if you are willing to reduce spending by looking for places in the budget that could be cut , as opposed to increasing or maintaining services such as Middletown, the need for huge tax increases to balance the budget would not be needed.
With a $7+million hole in this years budget, the Middletown GOP majority has to stop blaming others for the current mess the budget is in. It’s time to cut spending. if that means that residents may not be able to enjoy Park and Recreation events, or have to get to the tax office before well before closing, then so be it. If not, then residents will be looking at a double digit increase to the tax rate in Middletown.
Good job Colts Neck, now lets see if Middletown can follow your lead.
MiddletownMike 