Ewing council presents budget

Tax hike is expected

Wednesday, September 24, 2008
BY LISA CORYELL

EWING -- Township residents would see an 8-cent increase in the municipal tax rate under the
budget introduced by the township council last night.

The $44.7 million proposed spending plan restores most of the public safety cuts made by Mayor
Jack Ball last week in his effort to achieve a flat tax rate.

The restorations, which include $200,000 for two police positions and about $660,000 for fire
protection and prevention services, were made after representatives from council met with Ball's
administration yesterday afternoon.

"We came together and we worked out the kinks," said Bert Steinmann, council president. "This is
a realistic budget. I don't think people wanted us to cut safety services. Most of those cuts were
restored."

At last night's meeting, Stein mann said the council will huddle with department heads to discuss
where cuts can be made. "It's a work in progress and hopefully we're at the high end and will
work our way down," he said.

"We'll be looking at this budget with a fine microscope. That you can count on," said Joe Murphy,
council vice president.

Ball said the council members and administrators agreed that some of the cuts from last week
should be restored.

"It was a meeting of the minds," Ball said.

Also restored was $100,000 in health benefits, $220,000 in funding for the construction office and
a public works position.

Three new positions originally proposed and then cut by Ball are not in the latest version of the
budget.

On the revenue side, anticipated income from the sale of foreclosed township properties was
reduced by about $365,000, a more realistic expectation, Steinmann said.

The council will hold a public hearing on the proposed spending plan next month before adopting
a final budget.

"I still think you'll see a lot of changes as the council continues to go through the budget," Ball
said

The mayor said the township plans to apply for $1.5 million in state aid to offset the tax burden on
residents.

"My hope is that when this is all over, it will not be an 8-cent increase," he said. "My hope is that it
will be in the vicinity of a zero increase."
If the budget is adopted as it stands now, the municipal tax rate would increase from 91 cents per
$100 of assessed property value to 99 cents.

That means the owner of a house assessed at the township average of $122,600 would pay
about $98 more in municipal taxes this year. Currently the owner of a house assessed at the
township average pays about $1,116 in municipal property taxes.