Questions Raised On Budget Overspending, South Brunswick Council Responds

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Residents in South Brunswick will see an increase in the municipal portion of their property tax bill for 2023.

On Sept. 12, South Brunswick Township adopted a $73.9 million budget for 2023, which has been fueled by an overspending of $1.8 million in the 2022 budget.

In 2022, the average property tax bill was $9,734. In 2023, the tax rate increase will be 7.2 cents on every $100 of assessed value.

During Tuesday’s Council meeting, a resident asked the township government about last year’s overspending.

“The overspending of our 2022 municipal budget by $1.8 million, and now we have to pay it back in our 2023 budget,” said resident John O’Sullivan. “I’m asking for a public accounting on how and why this has happened.”

South Brunswick had to go to the state’s Local Finance Board to get approval to exceed the 2 percent spending cap.

Responding to the resident’s question Mayor Charlie Carley said that the price of goods and services have increased across the country leading to rise in township expenditure.

“We cater to the citizenry. But it gets expensive. You will know from the budget that the biggest jump up is in garbage and waste,” Carley said.

“But the jump up in the budget is almost 100 percent due to the increased cost of picking up your garbage twice a week and your recycling. If you don't want us to pick up your garbage, and you want to do a model like Monroe, where you pay someone to pick up your garbage, we'll put that to a public question. The answer is not even complicated.”

Councilman Kenneth Bierman agreed with the Mayor, saying the 2023 budget has not kept up with the inflation rate.

“Our budget has not increased as much as the inflation rate has increased. So, I get what you're asking, but we do our due diligence here to keep our taxes low,” Bierman said.

A public hearing on the budget was held on Aug. 22 and it was officially adopted on Sep. 11.

Many townships in New Jersey including neighboring Princeton have adopted budgets that will see a tax increase for residents.

To have a look at the township budget, click here.

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