Council Tightens Budget

Town Council wrapped up its final budget workshop by asking Tom Merchel, the township’s chief financial officer, to bring a budget with no greater than a one-half cent tax increase to the May 23 council meeting.

A one-half cent tax increase would mean an increase of approximately $26.69 for the average assessed home in Moorestown. The average assessed home in Moorestown is valued at $533,800.

“We have no interest whatsoever of raising taxes if we don’t have to,” said Mayor John Button.  

“We are still facing a continued loss of ratables,” Deputy Mayor Greg Gallo said. “We’ve had new expenses imposed upon us that weren’t of our choosing; those are really the drivers.”

In the 2011 budget is a $428,000 pension payment and a $52,000 increase in healthcare costs. Merchel noted that there was a 0 percent increase in prescription and dental costs.

In order to get the budget to a maximum of a one-half cent increase, council said it would freeze pay increases for non-union township employees and would reduce police overtime.

“Holding people flat is not a punishment, it’s a reality of where we are,” said Gallo. “We’re not talking about cuts or layoffs, we’re talking about a freeze.”

Several other cost-saving options–which would not affect the 2011 budget—were discussed such as outsourcing services, consolidating services and assessing longevity pay for township employees.

Township Manager Chris Schultz, attending his final council meeting, said that cutting the Recycle Bank program, in which residents receive coupons for recycling, could save the township approximately $25,000 in the 2011 budget if the contract is not renewed June 30.  The Recycle Bank program costs approximately $7.20 per property. The auto carts would remain for recycling.

“I don’t want to raise taxes,” said Councilwoman Stacey Jordan. “I think the three of you who have been on council the past year have done a really good job of getting the budget down to where it is today. It’s a pretty lean budget.”