Squan Set to Introduce 2012 Budget

Work is just about complete on the proposed 2012 Manasquan municipal budget, which the Borough Council expects to introduce at its Monday, March 19 meeting.

The council and administration held its latest and last budget workshop meeting Monday night to review the draft capital plan in advance of the initial council vote. Administrator Joseph DeIorio said he expects a public hearing and final adoption to be held in April.

Adjustments can still be made to the proposed $8.2 million budget before the council holds its initial vote, although DeIorio requested a Thursday deadline for any changes. 

As it stands, the average homeowner with a property assessed at $501,000 would pay an extra $80 in property taxes to fund the budget. The municipal tax rate is set to rise from 34.7 cents per $100 to 36.3 cents per $100 to fund the 2012 spending plan.

Although the budget will grow by 4.4 percent, the Borough Council will stay within the state-mandated 2 percent tax levy cap with certain exemptions on spending.

"We're actually under the cap but over in total percentage," DeIorio said.

Councilwoman Patricia Connolly said she was "disturbed" by the growth in the budget, which she said was "rather high."

However, borough Auditor Alan Schechter explained that the 2012 budget comes in roughly $41,000 under the 2 percent cap, which can only be sidestepped via public referendum.

DeIorio said the ($390,257), increased debt service ($71,000), declining revenues and a 21 percent increase in its insurance premiums when drafting the spending plan. Operating expenses actually will be lowered from 2011 but the budget will grow due to the aforementioned factors.

"When you look at departmental costs across the board, we did very well," DeIorio said, in response to questions from Councilman Donald Grasso on how Belmar has proposed a budget with a .

The capital plan reviewed Monday also included a $2 million beach utility budget. The borough would need to bring in $1.349 million to break even, Schechter said, and garnered $1.764 million last year despite Hurricane Irene shortening the beach season.

The council was initially presented a budget that would not meet the 2 percent cap threshold but cut recently with reductions in the, overtime salaries and other departmental spending.