Eatontown's $22 Million Municipal Budget Adopted

The Eatontown Council approved the 2012 municipal budget during Wednesday night's meeting.

The 2012 budget totals $22,603,194, according to Borough Auditor Robert Oliwa, and is under the cap by $1,043,492. This represents a $561,375 increase over the 2011 budget.

The amount to be raised by taxation is $14,727,423 and is under the allowable local property tax cap by $262,259.

A borough home valued at $305,000 will be assessed at $2,153 of local municipal taxes. This represents an increase of $76.25 over the 2011 amount of $2,077.

The introduced tax rate will be 70.6 cents per $100 of assessed value, an increase of 2.5 cents over the 2011 tax rate of 68.1 cents.

He said the largest increase in the 2012 budget is health insurance for municipal employees, which jumped $242,045 from 2011. Borough health insurance is set at $3,157,300 in 2012 budget.

Police salary and wages actually decreased by $50,340 from 2011 for a total of $4,784,372.

Councilman Anthony Talerico said borough employees received the "lowest percentage raise increase in borough history."

He said that helped keep the budget increase minimal, but said health insurance is something that is beyond the borough's control.

The capital budget totals $2,151,000 and includes planned projects for road and building improvements as well as the planned acquisition of vehicles, equipment and a fire truck.

Resident Bob English asked the council if a new fire truck was in the capital budget and Oliwa explained that it was. However, he said that does not mean the borough will purchase it.

The council would have to vote on whether or not to purchase the vehicle at a future meeting.

Councilman Talerico said the fire department has been asking for a new fire truck for years, and the borough has finally decided to include in its capital budget.