Township's Budget to Increase Taxes $26 on Average

It was called "painful" and "very challenging," the officially brought an end to the 2012 municipal budget process Tuesday night by approving a plan that will reduce spending by approximately $1.6 million.

“This year’s budget is painful, and it will continue to probably be more painful as the years come,” said Deputy Mayor Gloria McCauley, who serves on the township’s finance committee. “It was a very challenging budget. I’m proud to say that we met the challenges.”

The budget, which totals $26,521,439, comes in at a reduction of nearly 6 percent from the 2011 total and a reduction of one township employee, meaning an 8 percent reduction in township employees since 2008.

In light of this, Hillsborough Chief Financial Officer Nancy Haberle noted that the township has not had a problem meeting public service demands in recent years.

“We’ve had a significant savings in salaries and benefits, but it has not resulted in a loss of services to homeowners,” Haberle said.

Township Committee members attributed this quality public service to the fact that township employees have come together in recent times to make sure that all services stay intact, even if sacrifices have had to be made internally.

“When you look at where we were a few years ago as far as the number of employees and where we are today, we’ve had a significant reduction in spending, which means, in the end, that the employees are contributing more to the well-being of the township and also doing more with less,” Committeeman Frank DelCore said. “Our employees do a wonderful job of continuing to try to work with us to try to meet that challenge.”

Mayor Carl Suraci noted that the township was able to keep its percent tax increase below the 2-percent cap without taking any tax exceptions. This is a move that has only increased property tax on the average assessed township home by $26 while being estimated to save the township approximately $900,000 in 2012.

“The finance committee worked hard to ensure that the cap was adhered to without taking any of the exceptions that were available,” Suraci said.

Suraci and other committee members had praise for the finance committee’s work on this year’s budget.

“This budget represents a business-like approach to government,” Suraci said. “I’d like to thank our finance committee members for their dedication and hard work on this year’s budget.”

“I know it’s tough; (the finance committee) did a lot of hard work,” added Committeeman Bob Wagner. “I appreciate your time and your efforts and late nights on it.”