Tinton Falls Mayor Introduces 2011 Budget and Calls For 'Fiscal Discipline'

Mayor Michael Skudera introduced the 2011 municipal budget of $21.68 million for Tinton Falls on March 15 and called for “fiscal discipline” and the need to prioritize borough needs.

The total budget is $375,587 less than 2010 or down 1.72 percent, which the mayor attributed in part to 20 percent cuts to the operating budgets of the various borough departments and salary wage freezes.

The amount to be raised through property taxes is $11.93 million, which is an increase of $164,591 in 2010 or 1.4 percent. Recent legislation restricted municipalities from increasing tax levies over 2 percent.

In 2011, the owner of the average assessed home in the borough of $321,226 can expect to pay $1,335 annually, which is an increase of $11 from 2010.

The borough's tax rate rose in 2011 due to a high number of successful tax appeals along with the Tax Assessor's compliance plan.

The average residential value decreased from $337,013 in 2010 to $321,226, in 2011 and the municipal tax rate increased from $.393 in 2010 to $.416 in 2011. The increase is due to a reduction in total net valuation taxable from $2.998 billion to $2.87 billion in 2011.

Skudera cited high costs for snow removal, rising energy costs, and increases in pension and health care for borough employees as challenges in keeping the budget in check.

Conversely, Skudera said the borough was able to avoid worker layoffs and furloughs through renegotiating salaries and wages and a salary freeze for the police department in 2011. The borough reserve fund also increased in 2010 after being virtually depleted two years ago, said the mayor.

A hearing on the budget will be held at the end of April for public input prior to adoption.