Council gives final nod to town's spending plan
BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer

MARLBORO - By a vote of 3-1, the Township Council adopted a $34 million municipal budget for 2008 on July 17.

Council members Rosa Tragni, Frank LaRocca and Randi Marder voted to adopt the budget.

Council Vice President Steve Rosenthal voted no on the budget's adoption. Rosenthal said his objection was to the council's use of deferred school taxes.

Council President Jeff Cantor was absent from the meeting.

The budget calls for a total of $17.9 million to be raised in local property taxes to support the budget. The remaining $16.1 million will come from other sources of revenue.

Marlboro's 2007 municipal budget totaled $32.6 million and raised $17 million in local taxes.

Officials said the combination of higher non-controllable costs and a decrease in state aid is to blame for a 2-cent tax increase in the municipal tax rate.

Officials said that pension costs for public employees (i.e., police officers and other township employees) increased by $900,000, from $1.3 million in 2007 to $2.2 million for 2008. Gasoline costs have seen an increase of $133,000, rising from $300,000 in 2007 to a projected $433,000 in 2008.

Mayor Jonathan Hornik said state aid to Marlboro was decreased by $361,000 in 2008.

The municipal tax rate will increase from 54.3 to 56.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. That means the owner of a home that is assessed at $200,000 will pay about $1,126 in municipal taxes in 2008, up from $1,086 in 2007.

The owner of a home assessed at $400,000 will pay about $2,252 in municipal taxes in 2008, up from $2,172 in 2007. The owner of a home assessed at $600,000 will pay about $3,378 in municipal taxes in 2008, up from $3,258 in 2007.

"I understand that in this environment that's a lot of money for everyone. We have to work harder and we will. We are committed to doing this," Hornik said.

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

Councilwoman Rosa Tragni said, "This has been a very tough year in regard to the budget, particularly because we had a great deal of pressure with the increase in gasoline prices and the pension payments and a decrease in state aid. As a result of that we were caused to rely on the deferred school tax."

Rosenthal had previously spoken against making use of deferred school taxes.

"I respect everyone's decision and I hope you respect mine as well," Rosenthal said of the use of the deferred school tax, which is money the township collects for the school district and uses prior to making a payment to the school district.

A special budget committee will soon begin planning for the 2009 municipal budget with Rosenthal lending his assistance, Hornik announced. The purpose of that committee will be to analyze the 2008 budget and to seek ways to cut fixed spending for the 2009 budget, the mayor explained.

"We are going to get creative because we need to," Hornik said.

No member of the public offered a comment on the 2008 budget when given the opportunity to do so during the council meeting.