Politics & Government

$116 Average Tax Hike for Morris Plains Property Owners

Approved $12.7 million spending plan includes funding for capital projects to repair Sandy damage.

Morris Plains residents face an average $116 tax increase with the governing body's approval of the $12,740,117 2013 municipal budget.

Borough Council unanimously approved the spending plan, which is $212,000 larger than the 2012 budget, at a meeting Thursday night. 

“I think the governing body has done a good job on this ordinance,” Mayor Frank Druetzler said. “These are tough times.”

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The 2013 budget is up 1.69 over last year's plan and stays within the state-mandated 2 percent tax levy cap, Mayor Frank Druetzler said. 

“Our tax effort is $9,915,148, up $193,715 (or) 1.99 percent,” said Druetzler. “Our local tax rate will go up 2.9 cents.” He added that the tax impact works out to $29 for every $100,000 of assessed valuation “or  $116 on a house that is $400,000, … that’s about average.”

Find out what's happening in Morris Township-Morris Plainswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He added that there are capital projects in this budget due to superstorm Sandy damage. 

“(The budget) It provides basic services here in this community and continues our efforts to recover from Hurricane Sandy,” he said. “We have some capital projects there. They are paving … Laurel Street, Maple Avenue West, Jim Fear Drive, Speedwell Avenue Beautification project, which we just voted on, a generator here at town hall, replacement roofs and new sidewalks."

He went over some of the increases in the budget:

  • “Shade trees $25,000 because we got a lot of damage and we’re continuing to recover. We probably will not get it all done this year.”
  • The sewer contract went up $138,000.
  • “We put in money for tax appeal … of $100,000.”
  • “We have a new board of health contract, which reduced our cost there $33,000.”
  • Some deferred charges went down $16,000.
  • Principal, bonds and notes also went down.

“I thank Ana (Thomas, CFO), the finance committee and everyone involved … I thank Bill (Schroeder) and Valerie (Dolan)… It’s a team effort,” said Druetzler. Schroeder and Dolan are the borough’s auditors from Nisivoccia LLP-Certified Public Accountants and Advisors.

Dolan said that this year, there is a rotation and she will be taking over the borough’s auditing process for Schroeder. Thomas is also new in her CFO role with the borough.

“You have big shoes to fill,” said Druetzler to Dolan with a laugh and congratulated Thomas on her first budget process.

Schroeder said that he was pleased with the smooth budget process and thanked the council right back.

“It just shows what a class act this mayor and council is. Three cuts above,” he said.


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