Sussex Borough adopts 2015 budget

SUSSEX BOROUGH — The Sussex Borough Council adopted the 2015 budget last week, calling for an 8.32 percent hike in the tax rate.

Councilman Robert Holowach abstained from the budget vote.

This year, the oner of the average assessed home in the borough — a value of $180,330 — will pay an additional $102.38 this year.

Auditor
Auditor Tom Ferry said that the borough is the collection agency for the county and schools. Of every dollar sent to the Borough, 59 cents goes to the schools, and about 17 cents goes to the county, while 24 cents stays to balance the Sussex Borough budget.

Sussex water/sewer utility budget

The Sussex water/sewer utility budget for 2015 is $2,469,562, with an increase of 21.75 percent from $2,028,452 in 2014, by $441,110.

More than $83,000 of the fund balance was used to balance the utility budget. Rents are up to $2,029,016 from $1,998,452. Also, there was a water/sewer rate increase of $327,500 over 2014 in order to balance the 2015 budget.

Operating expenses went up 25.26 percent, or $347,153, from $1,374,522 to $1,721,675 due to many utility repairs, the Department of Public Works coming back in house, and a grant writer.

Statutory Expenditures went up 39.55 percent from $7,954 to $11,100.

More money
Fire Chief Jake Little returned along with Treasurer Floyd Southard to see if $5,000 had been found for two new sets of firemen turnout gear. Magura had been busy fulfilling a new N.J. state requirement for a user-friendly budget. The council hopes to have an answer regarding the $5,000 at the next meeting.

Councilwoman Georgeanna Stoll said two sets of fire gear had to be replaced this year because of age and condition. The latest two were damaged in a fire and were not on normal rotation.

On top of that, recently the Sussex Borough Ladder Truck is out of service because of an alternator.