Politics & Government

Long Branch Council Approves 2011 Budget

Council makes some minor adjustment, but taxes will still rise in Long Branch.

Homeowners will face a slight tax increase to finance the 2011 municipal budget, which was unanimously adopted by the Long Branch Council Tuesday night.

Although the total budget has decreased from 2010, the tax rate used to calculate local bills has increased from last year. 

The 2011 budget totals $47,796,773, down $972,179 from 2010. However, the municipal tax rate has increased from .7955 per $100 in assessed value in 2010 to .8251 per $100 this year.

Find out what's happening in Long Branch-Eatontownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For the average Long Branch home valued at $387,544, the municipal property tax increase would be $113 for the year for a total bill of $3,197.

The 2011 budget is $543,584 below the state-mandated 2 percent levy cap, according to Long Branch Chief Financial Officer Ron Mehlhorn.

Find out what's happening in Long Branch-Eatontownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At Tuesday night's council meeting, Mehlhorn said some minor adjustments were made to the 2011 budget since it was introduced last month. 

He said $37,500 was appropriated for beach operations and $10,000 was appropriated to public facilities to acquire parking meters for two city-owned parking lots at the north area of the beachfront. The $37,500 is being appropriated to cover the cost of an emergency appropriation which was made to help fund beach operations last year, according to Mehlhorn. 

However, Mehlhorn explained that $147,500 from the city's surplus account was being added as revenue to the budget.

"That takes care of the appropriations and reduces taxes," Mehlhorn said. 

The council unanimously approved the amendments to the budget before voting to pass the budget. 


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