Shrewsbury OKs Budget; Tax Increase

Shrewsbury Council adopted its 2011 budget Monday night along with a tax increase that came despite the borough’s ability to maintain the same exact levy it introduced last year.

The $8.869 million budget includes a $6.268 million tax levy. The local tax rate per $100 of assessed property value is 79 cents, a 1.6-cent increase over last years tax rate. The overall rate, which includes county taxes as well as taxes to two school districts, is $2.72 per $100 of assessed value.

While the budget has gone up less than $200,000, the tax levy remained the same from last year. The tax increase is the result of the borough’s ratable base falling in value over the past year. Successful tax appeals cost the borough approximately $16.5 million in assessed value this year.

Despite the tax increase, Business Administrator Tom Seaman said this budget process was a simpler proposition this time around, even though it took the borough six months while operating under a temporary budget to come up with the current one.

“Otherwise,” Seaman said of the budget and tax increase. “It’s been a pretty steady budget compared to the last few years.”