West Deptford Committee Introduces $30.3 Million Budget, Taxes Going Down

The West Deptford township committee introduced a $30.3 million budget Thursday night that slashes the local tax levy by about $400,000 from last year.

Last year’s local levy was $20.6 million, while this year’s is $20.2 million. The local tax rate also drops, from $1.41 per $100 of assessed value to 74.8¢ per $100, but the townshipwide property reassessment complicated matters.

“It’s hard to translate,” said township administrator Eric Campo. “Once you have a revaluation, it completely skews everything.”

Still, a homeowner at the new average rate of $208,144 should see a local property tax bill of $1,556.92, which is a decrease of $106.40 over last year’s rate. The actual tax savings could fluctuate up or down, depending on the difference in assessed values.

The savings came from a variety of places, everything from line-item cuts to reductions in overtime, as well as savings from things like layoffs and attrition in previous years that are benefiting the township now.

“There were a lot of little things,” Mayor Anna Docimo said.

And though the budget has officially been introduced, it doesn’t mean it’s unchangeable–the committee approved a verbal resolution that allows for additional committee and departmental meetings on the budget in the coming weeks.

“Right now, we’re comfortable with this budget,” Campo said.

The township still has to settle a contract with public works employees, something they addressed by voting during the meeting to create a negotiations subcommittee.

Campo said they hope to get that contract resolved soon.

“We want something fair for everybody,” he said.

Docimo added that the public works employees have done everything the township has asked from them and more, including giving back a scheduled raise one year.

“They have been remarkable,” she said. “They’re out to do what’s right for the community.”

And even though the 2011-12 budget isn’t finalized, Campo said he and the committee are already planning ahead for next year, which includes a $3.1 million jump in debt service payments–a gap in the budget that could result in a major local tax hike, if the committee can’t find a solution.

“A budget’s really a 12-month process,” he said. “You work throughout the year on the budget.”

The budget’s adoption Thursday night set the stage for a public comment session in mid-May before final adoption in June. That public session is tentatively scheduled for May 12, Campo said.