patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Budget

Friday, November 30, 2012

Budget Discussion Heats Up as Questions Remain

Guideline for flat budget adopted in close vote

Last year when the Howell Public Schools Board of Education adopted its budget for the district one of the highlights for the members was the fact that they were able to cut their spending and provide some tax relief for the resident.  At Wednesday's meeting a proposal to at least keep the budget flat this year was met with some resistance with many questions yet to be answered in terms of goals for the future and financing. With two members set to be replaced in January following the November elections there were also questions about whether budgetary issues should wait until the new board is seated.  Financial Questions While board member Jeanette Smith was the first to suggest the goal of a flat budget, fellow board member Stephen M. …

In this Article:

BOE Budget Includes Some Promised Tax Relief and Technology Task Force Preparing for Board Presentation

Jim

8:54 pm on Saturday, December 1, 2012

Everyone remember that a flat budget does not mean flat tax as ot depends on the state aid and contract terms. I would vote for flat taxes and work down from there. I started www.taxpayerwaste.com for precisely the purpose of raising awareness around our property taxes. I was taking a break until after the new board was seated, and it looks like it's time to start!! Join the effort, I have been …   more ›

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Tax Rate Dominates Public Portion of Township Meeting

Residents voice concerns with raised rates

Since receiving their tax bills in the mail, residents have expressed their displeasure at seeing their rates go up at many recent meetings.  Tuesday night's council meeting provided some another opportunity and the council members encouraged their participation and told them to get other people involved as well.  Vicki Blaess was the first resident to speak and said she was concerned by how much her taxes have gone up in recent years. "I understand the assessments and you did raise the rate because you're trying to get the money from somewhere," she said.  When she said she believed like other governmental agencies there was a spending problem rather than a revenue problem, Deputy Mayor William Gotto responded by saying that was not the …

In this Article:

Tax Increases Not Welcome News to Township Residents, Howell Residents React to New Tax Bills, Tax Questions Presented at BOE Meeting, and 5 more ›

Comment_arrow

Stop the insanity

12:20 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2012

Typically,small rural communities such as Howell do not have adequate real estate volume annual to create a sample big enough for a meaningful sales study. Without enough sales, you cannot reappraise property fairly or properly and achieve equalization. Rural communties need at least 2, perhaps 3, years to get enough data.   more ›

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

With Few Reservations Council Adopts Budget

Budget includes slight tax increase with core services left intact

In previous years budget season in Howell has been a difficult time of the year. Township employees have seen furloughs and other cuts while residents look to maintain the services they have come to expect in the township.  This year's budget, which was adopted by the council on Tuesday night addresses many of the key issues in the township without the fear of furloughs and the likelihood of raises for the township's employees. Deputy Mayor William Gotto said his third time working with the municipal budget was "by far the most difficult." Looking at the numbers and the impact it will have on the township Gotto said it was the hard work they put in over the past few years that helped get them to the budget they adopted on Tuesday.  And …

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Proposed Municipal Budget Includes Slight Tax Increase

Health-care and pension costs among reasons for increase

After many months of work with leaders of departments from all parts of the town's administration, Township Manager Helene Schlegel presented the preliminary budget for the upcoming year. The proposed budget of $44,303,515 incorporates a .008-cent municipal tax rate increase, with a $29 tax hike on a home assessed at the average township value of $350,000. Some of the factors leading to the increase were beyond the township's control, Schlegel said. Last year's budget included $20,994,263 in "non-controllable other expenses." In this year's proposal that line item increased to $22,069,399, which is an increase of 5.12 percent. On the other hand Schlegel said the proposed budget includes a decrease in controllable expenses. The budget she …

In this Article:

Howell Township, Howell Township Board of Education, and BOE Budget Includes Some Promised Tax Relief

PETE D

10:49 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012

MY TAXS WENT UP $1000. THATS WAY MORE THEN I CAN AFFORD. I NOW PAY 12 GRAND A YEAR AND I DONT EVEN HAVE A SWIMMING POOL. I SHOULD HAVE PURCHED A HOUSE IN FREEHOLD INSTEAD WHERE THE TAXS RATE IS MUCH LESS. I MOVED TO HOWELL BECAUSE HOMES WERE AFFORDABLE AND TAXS WERE REASONABLE . THAT NO LONGER STANDS TRUE.   more ›

Friday, February 24, 2012

Howell Schools Get Increase in State Aid

Extra money could help with budget process

Just one day after a contentious budget meeting the Howell Board of Education got what could be good news from Trenton with additional funding from last year.  This year the state will contribute a total of $32,977,580 to the district's budget. That is an increase of $1,294,815 that the district received last year.  With the numbers being released on Thursday, it provided an answer to at least one of the questions that remained unanswered after Wednesday's meeting of the board. After voting to move their elections to November, it also could help in preparing the budget for the upcoming year. Unlike previous years budgets will no longer be put to a public vote unless they exceed the two percent state cap.  Superintendent Enid Golden said …

In this Article:

BOE Budget Includes Some Promised Tax Relief

sue

5:10 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012

Lower the property taxes! Isn't that what we've been fighting for?   more ›

Thursday, February 23, 2012

BOE Budget Includes Some Promised Tax Relief

Questions come from preliminary budget presentation

At Wednesday's meeting of the Howell Board of Education the members of the dais had their first chance to discuss the preliminary budget for the upcoming year.  Unlike in previous years, this budget will not be voted on by the public after the board moved their elections to November at an earlier meeting. With a new process in place the board looks to fulfill a promise they made during last year's budget cycle while still maintain a high level of services for the district's students. According to information provided by the district the general fund for the budget is $100,409,853 with $63,444,148 coming from the local tax levy. In addition to the general fund there is also $2,399,631 from the special reserve fund and $7,916,104 in the debt…

In this Article:

Howell Township Board of Education and Board Narrowly Votes to Move Elections to November

Monday, February 20, 2012

Budget Season Returns to Howell

Meetings and more for residents this week

With municipal offices and schools closed on Monday for President's Day there will still be plenty to do in the township this week.  On Tuesday night at 7:30 the Town Council will hold its second meeting of the month at Town Hall. In addition to the regular township business the council will also take time tomorrow night to recognize the Howell AYFC Rebel Cheerleaders who recently won the national championship in their age group. There will also be a public hearing on an ordinance that would ban signs using "red, amber or green lights," within 100 feet of a light controlled intersection among other requirements.   The council is also scheduled to introduce an ordinance relating to property maintenance in the township. The ordinance has …

In this Article:

District Considering Technology Options, Volunteers Wanted for Technology Advisory Committee, and Shore Conference Wrestlers Advance In Districts

Got a Hot Tip?

Patch Picks

 
 

Videos

 

Most Popular Articles

  1. Howell Man Indicted In Rape of 3-Year-Old
  2. Two Howell Residents Jailed After Friendship Road Burglary
  3. 1,000 Bottles Of Booze Seized In 'Operation Swill'
  4. Needed Traffic Light Tied Up In Court
  5. "Operation Swill" Targets Freehold TGI Fridays

PSST! Want to Contribute?

  • Got a hot tip on news you think everyone should know? Tell us.
  • Just married? New baby? Make honor roll? Add an Announcement
  • Organizing that big block party or poetry reading? Put it on the calendar!
  • Have a great photo of your community?
    Add it to Your Neighborhood Gallery.