Marlboro council adopts $32.6M budget
Municipal spending plan is up $2.3 million over 2006 budget
BY ERIN O. STATTEL
Correspondent

The Marlboro Township Council approved the adoption of a $32.6 million municipal budget for 2007 on June 28.

According to information provided by the council, the revenues that make up the budget are: $6.6 million from surplus; $8 million from miscellaneous revenues anticipated; $1 million in receipts from delinquent taxes; and $17 million to be raised in local property taxes.

The budget will raise $625,456 through the open space, recreation, farmland and historic preservation trust fund levy.

According to the budget, Marlboro's municipal tax rate will rise from 53.3 cents to 54.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

The owner of a home assessed at the township average of $217,000 will pay $1,178 in municipal taxes in 2007, an increase of about $22 from 2006.

The owner of a home assessed at $300,000 will pay $1,629 in municipal taxes in 2007 (up from $1,599); the owner of a home assessed at $400,000 will pay $2,172 in municipal taxes in 2007 (up from $2,132); and the owner of a home assessed at $500,000 will pay $2,715 in municipal taxes in 2007 (up from $2,665).

After some debate over the town's allocations of funds, the council members spoke out.

"There is no miracle work here," Marlboro Councilwoman Patricia Morelli said, adding that the council remained loyal to the figures presented within the budget and defended their work.

"We take the budget very seriously," Coun-cilwoman Rosa Tragni said. "We ask ourselves what is good for the town and the residents. Please don't forget that we are taxpayers ourselves."

Democratic mayoral candidate Jon Hornik commented on the budget during the public hearing. He called the new budget the highest in the town's history and said that any increase in tax levels, even at the municipal level, is too much.

Hornik said the council needs to find better ways to control municipal spending. He attacked the current litigation strategy as it relates to various cases that have been pursued by the municipality and said the council needs to be more creative.

Councilman Steve Rosenthal pointed out that there has been a reduction in grants that the township has received and urged Hornik and other residents to not overlook core expenses.

When the budget was introduced several weeks ago, Chief Financial Officer Al Steinberg pointed out that the 2007 spending plan contained an increase of more than $1 million, or almost 5 percent, in core operating expenses such as salaries and utilities.

After listening to each citizen's comments, Mayor Robert Kleinberg responded to Hornik's attack on the current litigation strategy.

"Sometimes in life you have to do what's right," the mayor said, defending litigation conducted on the town's dime. "Builders do not want to come to Marlboro because it is too difficult to build here. We have done what we said we would do; slow down and stop overdevelopment."

Kleinberg referenced the corruption experienced by past municipal administrations that he said ignored affordable housing issues and accepted bribes in order to allow builders to continue to develop market value homes.

"For someone to tell me to not stand up and say that something isn't right, that's ludicrous!" said Kleinberg, who is running for a second four-year term as mayor. "I will not stand back when I know bribes are given."

Municipal taxes are one part of a property owner's overall tax bill, which also includes local K-8 school taxes, Freehold Regional High School District taxes and Monmouth County taxes, among other assessments.

Marlboro's 2006 budget amounted to $30.3 million and raised the municipal tax rate by 2 cents, from 51.3 cents to 53.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The local tax levy was $16.4 million.

The 2005 budget amounted to $28.2 million and raised the municipal tax rate by 8 cents, from 43.3 cents to 51.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The local tax levy was $15.48 million.

In other business, Michael Dimino, the new executive director of the Western Monmouth Utilities Authority (WMUA), was introduced to the council and Marlboro citizens at the meeting. Dimino said he likes to work with the public.

"Working for the public is a privilege," Dimino said. "I take it very seriously and look forward to serving the communities."

The WMUA, headquartered in Manalapan, provides sewage treatment services for customers in Manalapan, Marlboro, Englishtown and Freehold Township.

Morelli advocated for better communication between the WMUA and the council, citing a lack of communication as being a problem in the past.

Rosenthal and Councilman Joseph Pernice agreed.

"It's refreshing to have new leadership here," Rosenthal said. "Good luck."