Wantage taxes to rise, budget to drop
WANTAGE — Wantage Township Treasurer Michelle La Starza presented the township's $6 million budget at a public hearing on April 30.
The total 2015 budget is $5,947,086, down $443,709 from $6,390,796 in 2014; and the tax levy is $3,562,317 at a local tax rate of 0.295. The average home in the township is assessed at $261,116.
La Starza said even though the budget is down from last year, the taxpayer owning the average-valued home will pay $56 more in 2015 than last year. She said the combination of lower revenues and surplus in 2014 was too much for the budget to absorb in 2015.
Mayor Bill Gaechter said because the Township Committee changed to a shared-service agreement with Hardyston for the Construction Department, the 2014 revenues were lower than what was anticipated.
According to state law, lower-than-anticipated revenues must be made up from the surplus. Last year's revenues were down $80,227 because $145,000 was anticipated, but $64,773 was actually received as a result of the mid-year change.
However, the township will benefit by saving around $163,982 because the Construction Department costs went down from $202,122 in the 2015 budget. Gaechter said the 2015 hit will equal out in 2016.
Other expensesThe township will begin to pay back the Lake Neepaulin Dam loan to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, making up about 2 percent of the budget.
Another expense is an increase of $7,700 for the maintenance of parks because Lake Neepaulin is now a Wantage Township park. The expense went from $24,300 in 2014 to $32,000 in the 2015 budget.
La Starza said other expenses occurred because of the “horrible winter,” which used up the snow removal reserve fund. The Township salt shed is less than half full, and the township has $43,000 to last the rest of year.
Although the Township saved on salaries and wages in 2014, La Starza said state law requires keeping the money on hold for the year in case of new bills. Whatever is not spent as of Dec. 31 will become the surplus. At this time, it appears that the township will have $135,000 over the previous surplus.