2011 Budget Formally Introduced at Last Council Meeting

Lawrence Township Council unanimously voted on May 3 to introduce the much-discussed $42.1 million municipal budget for 2011.

A public hearing on the budget – which will raise the municipal property tax rate by 6 cents and will see nearly $21.5 million of the total amount being raised through taxes – will take place at the council’s meeting on June 9 at 7 p.m. at the township municipal building.

Also during the May 3 meeting, township council introduced six ordinances, passed several resolutions and read a proclamation honoring the Lawrence Township police officers taking part in the .

(Copies of the meeting agenda and the township manager’s memo explaining many of the items on the agenda can be viewed from the PDF box at the right.)

The motion to introduce the proposed budget was voted through by Mayor Greg Puliti, Councilwoman Pam Mount, and Councilmen Michael Powers and Jim Kownacki. Councilman Bob Bostock was absent.

The increase of 6 cents per $100 of assessed property value will translate into an increase from the current 78 cents to 84 cents, meaning the owner of a home assessed at the township average of $161,292 would pay a tax bill of $1,354.85 – or $96.77 more than if the tax rate remained at 78 cents.

The 2011 budget is approximately $800,000 more than the 2010 budget, with about half of that sum going towards increases in salaries, benefits, and higher pension contributions, township officials said.

Township Manager Richard Krawczun noted that while salaries have risen over the prior fiscal year, staffing changes have minimized that increase. Changes have included the decision not to fill two full-time police vacancies, reducing a secretarial position from full-time to part time, and eliminating a part-time inspector in the construction division.

Also factoring into the $800,000 increase in this year’s budget is the installation of a red light traffic camera at the intersection of Brunswick Pike (Route 1) and Franklin Corner Road/Bakers Basin Road, which will cost the township $408,000. Township officials anticipate offsetting that cost with the revenue that will be generated from fining drivers who speed through red lights.

Council members expressed their dissatisfaction with the tax rate increase, but acknowledged that a lot of work went into the preparation of the budget.

“I hope the citizens realize we worked very hard to make things work,” said Mount.

That included the consideration of shaving a penny from the tax rate increase – while doing so would have saved the average taxpayer about $16.13 for the year, the move would have necessitated the elimination of the township’s Department of Recreation, along with other drastic personnel cuts. Mayor Puliti and other members of council rejected that plan.

The next meeting of the township council will be held next Tuesday (May 17) but by law the council must wait until its meeting on Thursday, June 9, to vote on whether or not to adopt the budget.

Previous Coverage:

April 23: Lawrence to Move Forward with 6-Cent Tax Rate Hike

April 7: Manager Asked for Suggestions to Cut Tax Rate Hike

March 24:

March 2: Proposed Lawrence Township Budget for 2011 Revealed - Includes a 6 Cent Tax Rate Increase