Taxes Going Up…Jackson Council Votes to Exceed NJ 2% Budget Cap for 2017

by
April 26, 2017
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JACKSON-Taxes in Jackson are on the rise again.

On April 11th, the township council approved an ordinance to raise taxes beyond the state’s annual 2% tax increase cap set forth by Governor Chris Christie.

The council voted 4-1 in favor of the tax increase in which the budget exceeds the 2% cap by $1,040,243, a total appropriations increase of 3%.

“The Township Council hereby determines that a 3.00% increase in the budget for said year, amounting to $1,040,283 in excess of the increase in final appropriations otherwise permitted by the Local Government Cap Law, is advisable and necessary,” the approved ordinance states.

Council members Scott Martin, Barry Calogero, Robert Nixon and Anne Updegrave voted in favor of exceeding the 2% tax cap.

Council President Ken Bressi rejected the Mayor’s request to exceed the cap and dissented with his fellow councilmembers, saying only, “no” when asked for his vote by township clerk Ann Marie Eden.

This year, the township will collect $155 million in taxes between the township, school board and fire companies, including $2.2 million for open space purchases, $31.8 million in municipal spending, representing an overall increase of nearly $1,000,000 for the municipal government.

According to the proposed budget, the 6 member mayor/council body will cost the township $175,603 for part time services including base pay, medical benefits and employment taxes.

Total personnel costs for the township will be $28,000,000 in 2017.

Township executives feeling under the weather in 2016?

In total, the township will pay out $2.9 million, or 10% of the total payroll for 2016, in compensated absence (sick pay) pay, including $34,500 to the Director of Public Works, $32,000 to the Chief Financial Officer and $27,000 to the chief of police.

According to the U.S. Census, The median income for a household in the township was $65,218, and the median income for a family was $71,045. Males had a median income of $51,276 versus$33,882 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,981.

Professional Expenses

Jackson’s legal campaign donors stand to make out big again in 2017, with $857,000 in payouts expected, an increase from $831,000 in 2016, an overall increase in legal costs for the year.  Professionals on the land use board and engineers also will see increases in 2017.

Code enforcement wages will increase from $287,000 to $305,000.

You can view the complete budget on the Jackson Township website, here.

 

 

 

 

Phil Stilton
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