2020 Township of Berkeley Heights Budget
The Township Council passed the 2020 Budget at the June 23, 2020 Town Council meeting by a vote of 6-0; there is a zero percent municipal tax increase for Berkeley Heights residents.
The Budget Presentation is available online.
The municipal government will require $22.3 million to perform its functions and the library $1.2 million; the library tax levy is set by the state. General revenues for 2020 are $7.4 million, not quite $1 million more than received in 2019, leaving $13.8 million to be raised by taxes to run the municipal government, plus $1.2 million to be raised by taxes for the library.
The main goal of the budget post COVID-19 was to provide the residents of Berkeley Heights with a budget that maintains the level of services residents are accustomed to without a tax increase at a time when some may be financially impacted by the pandemic. Some highlights post-COVID:
- Revenues were impacted and reduced (court fees, inspection fees, hotel tax, investment interests, etc.)
- Department heads revised budget requests/needs
- Expenditures eliminated (summer interns, delayed Rec Director hire, crossing guards, reduced snow removal budget, reduced deferred for NJEIT loans)
- Negotiated an increased expanded liquor license for Connell Park - $475,000 (not related to their rezoning request)
- New sources of revenue added: Connell Park (with or without rezoning, sewer connection fees)
Although the budget presentation has typically been given at budget adoption, going forward, it will be done at budget presentation, so that the public has more time to digest the information and come to the adoption meeting with questions.
Budget article in TAPinto Berkeley Heights can be found here.