On Monday night, the Middletown Township Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt a 2015 budget.
The $32.1 million budget does not feature any type of tax increase, and will keep the 17.50 millage rate. On average, property owners can expect to pay about $514 to the municipality in taxes.
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According to the budget summary, the earned income tax, at .5 percent, will raise about $4 million dollars in 2015. The tax raised about $3 million in 2014. During the meeting, one resident asked the board to make sure that they “did not forget about the wage earners,” who are making the township money.
The biggest problem that has faced the budget in recent years, but was addressed more thoroughly in this year’s budget talks, is that of a “structural imbalance,” within the general fund, according to Township Manager Stephanie Teoli Kuhls. However, significant progress was made in this year’s talks regarding making lasting repair on the recurring imbalances. This progress comes from emphasizing cost containment, said Teoli Kuhls.
As a result of the new cost containment measures being pursued by the township, savings were found through many areas of the general fund.
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Listening to competitive offers for health insurance in 2014 led to a savings of $240,000. Other areas where savings are large include the review and changes in fees charged by the township where $110,000 have been created in revenue. According to the document, “staff reductions and deferral of replacement of positions” allowed a savings estimated at $200,000.
Within the report supplied by Kuhls is the information that the township has been reaffirmed to have an AA+ bond rating. The rating is described as “a reflection of the Township’s sound financial position and strong management.”
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Chairperson of the board, Pat Mallon, said regarding the budget, “We had to make some tough decisions. We fixed the financial future, we invested in the infrastructure, and we continue to focus on fiscal management.”
Mallon explained that although the township is governed by second class guidelines, he said, “In my mind, we’re a first class township.”
