2017 Berkeley Budget: No New Tax Hikes

Berkeley taxpayers will have less to grumble about this year, since there are no tax increases in the 2017 municipal budget.

The tax bill for a home assessed at the township average of $199,500 will pay $1,237 for each $100 of assessed valuation to support the $45,272,831 budget. The budget is actually down $986,554 since 2016, Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. said.

The municipal purposes tax rate will remain the same as last year - 61.8 cents for each $100 of assessed valuation.

This will be the last year the township will have to make a $1.2 million payment for the special appropriation in emergency funds Berkeley received to help with Superstorm Sandy damage.

Amato, Township Administrator John Camera and Treasurer Frederick Ebenau started budget preparations this year with two goals - to keep as few as possible "dedicated quality employees" and to develope more township-wide activities.

"In another words, we are providing something for everyone," Amato said.

Township ratables are still down $47 million since last year, in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy."In another words, we are providing something for everyone," Amato said

Thanks to a very mild winter, township officials were able to trim $350,000 from the snow removal budget, leaving a cushion of $150,000, the mayor said.

The public hearing on the budget is slated for 6 p.m. on April 24 in Town Hall on Pinewald-Keswick Road in Bayville.

Image: Berkeley Township