SID budget totals $320,207

FREEHOLD - Administrators at the Freehold Center Partnership are constantly looking for ways to work on new projects without impacting the assessment for members of the town's Special Improvement District (SID), according to Jayne Carr, the partnership's executive director.

A new budget for the SID was reviewed by the Borough Council on May 21. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 18 at Borough Hall.

The SID's budget for the coming year totals $320,207 and calls for $205,921 of that amount to be raised by taxation on properties within the SID.

The previous SID budget totaled $365,175 and raised $189,700 through taxation on properties within the SID.

According to a resolution prepared by the council, $102,960.50 in taxes will be raised between July 1 and Dec. 31 and the balance of $102,960.50 in taxes will be raised between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2008.

In addition to the tax assessment, the SID's budget revenues include $87,286 for marketing, $12,000 in cash sponsorships for dedicated projects and $15,000 through bartering, according to Carr.

Administrative expenses amount to $104,100 and include $51,600 for salaries, $18,600 for rent, $15,000 for office staff and $8,000 for health benefits.

Proposed programs total $189,107, and according to partnership Chairman Mike Page, include capital improvements at $7,000; the planning, communication and development committee, which is responsible for the purchase of all plantings around town, is $25,900; the marketing salary is $42,000; and marketing events such as Kruise Nite, a holiday lighting ceremony and other community events totals $85,000.

Business development is $6,000; the restaurant committee, which created items such as a restaurant guide, is listed at $10,000; and the cultural arts committee, which involves the Center Playhouse on South Street, is $5,000. Page said the partnership administration worked hard to keep operating costs down.