Wantage introduces 2015 budget

WANTAGE — The Wantage Township Committee unanimously introduced the nearly $6 million Wantage Township Municipal Budget on Thursday, March 26.

The total budget will be $5,947,087. Revenues are down, officials said and the tax levy will be $3,562,317. The local tax rate of 0.295 is up from 0.275 in 2014.

In comparison to 2014, salaries went down $110,475; operating expenses went down $87,821; health insurance went down $19,500; and the reserve for uncollected taxes went down $173,757, for a total decrease of $611,898. After using $329,00 surplus in the 2015 budget, the remaining surplus is $340,925.

The committee also unanimously approved establishing a CAP Bank for the calendar year of 2015. The final hearing will be April 30.

County solar panel problem Deputy Mayor Ronald Bassani recommended communicating with other municipalities who are taking action regarding the county solar panel problem. Bassani would like to represent and protect the Wantage taxpayers, possibly through further action.

Township Attorney Glenn Kienz read a suggested resolution calling for a full investigation by an independent third party which encourages the County Board of Freeholders to take appropriate action because the money is coming from the taxpayers. The resolution also emphasizes open transparent government.

Officials discussed and decided to have an informational meeting with Sussex County Administrator John Eskilson and Sussex County Freeholder Phil Crabb. They decided that a possible resolution could wait until their next committee meeting.

Mayor Bill Gaechter also said that he had a face-to-face meeting with Freeholder George Graham in order to gain enough information before passing a resolution.