Council adopts $13 million municipal budget for 2007

FREEHOLD - The Borough Council has adopted a $13.2 million budget to fund the operation of the municipality

in 2007. The budget was adopted on

May 23.

Officials expect to raise $7.1 million through the local tax levy, according to Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina. According to figures provided by Bellina, the municipal tax rate will rise from 63 cents to 65.8 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

That means the owner of a home assessed at the borough average of $257,000 will pay $1,691 in municipal taxes this year, up $72 from $1,619 in 2006.

Municipal taxes are one part of a property owner's overall tax bill, which also includes local school taxes, Freehold Regional High School District taxes and Monmouth County taxes, among other assessments.

The 2007 budget is $615,944 higher than the 2006 budget.

Budget increases include a payment to the police pension fund, which is up $150,000 from 2006, and a payment to the civilian employee pension fund, which is up $25,000, Bellina said.

Insurance, which includes health, liability, workers compensation and police insurance, is up $75,000 this year compared to the 2006 budget. The cost of gas for the borough's vehicles is up $40,000 from a year ago. Refuse and garbage collection costs are up $35,000 from 2006, according to Bellina.

Included in the budget is a $30,000 fund, which was set up to allot money for legal fees in accordance with a federal lawsuit filed against the borough. Bellina said all insurance costs have increased and the insurance premiums as a result of that lawsuit are a part of it. The fund was also set up to pay for any claims on any ticket violations incurred from an ordinance called "officer's discretion," which has since been repealed.

Bellina said the borough's debt service payment is up $40,000 in this year's budget, to a total of $994,000, and the reserve for uncollected taxes is up $60,000 over 2006, to a total of $850,000.

Projects planned for Freehold Borough in 2007 include road improvements to Monmouth Avenue and Ann Street at a cost of $505,000. There is a grant of $170,000 being applied to that cost.

Also included in the capital projects are repairs to the downtown area's promenade in front of restaurant row, at a cost of $15,000.

Municipal court security improvements will be put in place with security cameras for the parking lot and parking lot lighting, video-conferencing, an armed police officer and metal detectors. These efforts, along with others, will cost $50,000. Police communications and computer upgrades are also on tap at a cost of $50,000. The police and court operations are in the Rug Mill Towers on Jackson Street.

There are no new municipal positions being added as Bellina said the borough has reached maximum capacity.