With State Aid Remaining Constant, Mayor Expects Tax Increase to Remain Steady Also

Recently released numbers from the state Department of Community Affairs show that Montville will receive the same amount of state aid that it saw in 2010.

Montville is slated to receive $2,144,367 from Energy Tax receipts distribution and $1,692 in Watershed aid, totaling in $2,146,059 for 2011.

The number reflects statements Gov. Chris Christie made in his budget proposal on Tuesday, saying that municipalities would receive steady aid.

“That's right, mayors—[aid is] at the exact same level as last year,” he said. “So there is no excuse for this relief to be eaten up with higher local taxes, between receiving no further cut in municipal aid, and implementing a 2 percent cap on property taxes."

The news comes as no surprise to Township Administrator Frank Bastone, who said at the Township Committee’s meeting Tuesday night that he had expected the amount of aid to remain constant.

“We got word that the state revenue was going to be flat,” he said at the meeting. “We haven’t seen the actual number yet, but we are anticipating that we will receive the same amount of state aid that we got last year.”

For the township’s 2011 budget, the more important number is the amount the township will receive in surplus money from the library. According to Township Committee member and library liaison Tim Braden, the township will not know how much money it is receiving from the library until the board of trustees hears back from the state library board.

Despite not having the full budget picture yet, Mayor Jim Sandham is confident that, based on projections and estimations, that the township will “absolutely” come in under the 2 percent levy cap. Sandham said on Tuesday that he would like to see a zero percent tax increase.

"Right now, we’re projected at 2 percent,” he said. “Finding two more points is about $600,000 and that’s a big number. My guess is we are not going to get to zero, but I would still like it to be less than it was last year at a 1.7 percent tax increase.”