West Long Branch Council Adopts 2011 Budget

The West Long Branch Council adopted the 2011 municipal budget during its Wednesday night meeting and announced that the cost to taxpayers will increase slightly.

The 2011 budget totals $9,863,070, down from $10,260,893 last year. Although the municipal budget has decreased, the municipal tax rate is 0.502, a 0.027 increase from 2010. For the average borough home valued at $474,507, the increase will be $128.79 for the year or about $10.73 monthly.

The borough is using $890,000 from its surplus account and $125,000 from library accounts to help lower this year's tax increase, according to Mayor Janet Tucci.

Tucci thanked all those who helped put together the 2011 budget, a challenge this year due to the new state-mandated 2 percent spending cap and stable state aid, which remained at $796,169.

There was no comments from the public during the public hearing for the budget, and very little commentary made by the council. 

Some tough decisions had to be made in order to come up with this year's budget, including a salary freeze for all borough employees  and 5 percent spending reductions for all department budgets.

The council unanimously voted to approve this year's budget.