Library Returns Surplus Money to Township

The Montville Township Library Board is giving something back to the township: money.

During a ceremony prior to Monday's library board meeting, Board President Peter King presented Mayor James Sandham with a check for $237,022, courtesy of a state program that allows municipalities to return money to residents for tax relief.

Montville is the first municipality in the state to take advantage of the program, which was implemented by the state legislature in 2009.

"This is an historic moment," King said. "Only a few times has the library given money back to the taxpayers for tax reduction."

King said library trustees, especially the finance committee, "worked hard as a team to get this together and make this day possible," adding that a line item program implemented last year was the basis for the refund.

"I hope this [event] sets an example that other organizations can do the same thing," he said.

In accepting the check, Sandham noted that the state funding is not specific and did not exactly cover the needs of the library board. The funding formula, he said, was made through what he called "an archaic method dictated by the state that did not consider the needs of the library board."

The refund, Sandham said, shows that "once again Montville has taken a leadership position in returning our residents' hard-earned dollars back to them," and praised the library board and finance committee "for controlling spending and generating a surplus."

The mayor said the library board and township committee worked for more than one year to get the funding.

"We are very happy that this day has arrived," he said. "I'm glad to see this happen and hope our representatives in Trenton pass reforms to change funding."

At this time, it is unclear how the township committee plans to spend the returned money. The next township committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.

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