Politics & Government

Township Adopts Budget with 5-cent Tax Rate Increase

Lawrence Township's $43 million spending plan raises the municipal tax rate to $0.94 per $100 of assessed property value.

Lawrence homeowners will see a bump in their municipal tax bills this year after the Township Council voted unanimously to adopt a $43 million spending plan at Tuesday's meeting.

The $43,017,614 municipal budget raises the municipal tax rate to $0.94 per $100 of assessed property value from $0.89. The tax rate increase, combined with a new $25 fee for bulk trash pickup, will result in the owner of a home assessed at the township average of $160,262 paying an additional $105 in municipal taxes for 2013. 

"Nobody is happy with a 5-cent increase, but we have to play with the cards that we're dealt," said Councilman Michael Powers during the meeting.

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The township’s ratable base dropped nearly $27.1 million in the last year. The decrease of $27.1 million in ratables alone amounted to a loss of tax revenue in 2013 of $254,952, according to township officials. 

Tax appeals have caused the township’s tax base to plummet more than $194 million since 2007.

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

During the public portion of the hearing, resident Amy Davis offered a scathing rebuke of the budget plan accusing the council of skirting the 2 percent tax cap by initiating the $25 bulk trash fee.

"I loathe your deceitfulness. When voters elected you they didn't expect trickery," she told the council. "You're doing indirectly what the law stops you from doing directly."

Davis also compared Lawrence's tax increase to smaller bumps in surrounding communities, such as Pennington, Princeton, Robbinsville, West Windsor, Ewing and Trenton.

"We need people on council who will spend more prudently and will eliminate the ridiculous bulk trash fee scheme," she said.

Resident and township Planning Board member Ian Dember disagreed and praised the work of the council in keeping the tax increase manageable. 

"I believe in facts and I believe that we are under the 2 percent cap. As a town, we are 12 out of 13 in Mercer County (municipal taxes)," Dember said. "I appreciate the work the council has done in keeping the spending in line with what we're capable of doing."

Dember also said the bulk trash fee was necessary for keeping local creeks from accumlating garbage.

"I think it's an outstanding way to tie in what must be done with what must be paid," he said. "That's the definition of fiscal responsibility."

Councilman Stephen Brame noted the challenges for next year would be equally as daunting with the municipal budget, requiring the council to look for new areas of revenue while improving efficiency.

"Going forward we have to find ways to make it work," he said. "We are residents and neighbors. We are not enemies. We must accomplish these goals together, because next year will be just as tough."


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