No Tax Increase In Cinnaminson's Proposed Budget

CINNAMINSON, NJ — After a week’s delay due to technical issues, Cinnaminson Township Committee introduced its proposed $16,419,053.84 budget with no tax increase Monday night.

If approved at the May 24 committee meeting, the tax rate of .616 percent would remain unchanged, with a total amount of $10,287,126.01 to be collected through taxation, according to a copy of the proposed budget provided to Patch.

The amount to be raised for municipal purposes would be $9,935,990.83, with $6,483,063.01 anticipated in revenues other than taxation. School district and county taxes were not reflected in the proposed budget, but the township estimates school taxes will be $38,000 and the county taxes will be $8,605,000.

This year's proposed budget lists an anticipated surplus of $2,302,500, an increase of $242,500. Miscellaneous revenues are listed at $3,730,563.01.

The township anticipates $6,483,063.01 in revenues (a $161,065.39 increase), including $1,920,745 in state aid, as well as $300,000 in construction code fees, $45,000 in revenue from shared services, $213,818,.01 in public and private revenues, $903,000 in revenue from “other special items” and $450,000 in delinquent taxes.

On the appropriations side, Salaries and wages are expected to increase by $138,373, from $5,838,502 to $5,976,875. "Other expenses" are also expected to increase, by $95,102, from $5,959,295 to $6,054,397.

Statutory and deferred charges are expected to go up by $156,942, from $1,333,714 to $1,490,656. Debt service would decrease by $13,650, from $1,281,418 to $1,267,768. There is $100,000 set aside for capital improvements.

It was the second straight week Township Committee introduced its proposed budget, as there was a glitch that didn’t permit some members of the public from participating in the Zoom call for the April 19 meeting.

It has been necessary for governing bodies to hold their meetings virtually since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cinnaminson Township Committee has been meeting via Zoom.

“We’ve had dozens of meetings throughout the pandemic, and for the most part, we’ve done a good job,” Township Manager Eric Schubiger said. “When this glitch happened, we took it seriously right away. Instead of dwelling on it, we fixed it, and reduced the likelihood that it happens again. I take responsibility for it. I thank (the committee) for having the meeting again. It’s the right thing to do.”

Township Committee previously approved a proposed ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a cap bank.

By approving the proposal, Township Committee allowed the township to increase its budget by 3.5 percent over last year's final appropriations and bank the excess as an appropriation.

The additional proposed increase amounts to 2.5 percent, or $328,287.78, according to information provided by Township Manager Eric Schubiger.

In all, the 3.5 percent increase amounts to $459,602.89. Read more here: Cinnaminson Budget Expected To Be Introduced In April

The average property tax bill in Cinnaminson for 2020 was $7,878, according to information provided to Patch by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Read more here: 2021 Cinnaminson Property Taxes: See Full Breakdown