FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Joseph M. DiBella, Mayor

1-732-938-4500

February 5, 2006

2006 Municipal Budget Update

Within the next several days the township council and I will begin public meetings with township department heads regarding our 2006 municipal budget. The adoption of the municipal budget is one of the most important matters the governing body eve deals with. The budget reflects the priorities of the community and also determines our spending and tax rate for the year.

In municipal government, a calendar year budget does not necessarily mean January – December.  Final state aid calculations and other revenue projections will not be available for a few months and so during this time we’ll evaluate local needs and priorities for the township.  Last year we made considerable cuts and decisions designed to stave off a larger tax increase. I hope that the benefits from some of the decisions last year will be of help to us this year as well. And while we have infrastructure needs like road repairs for example, I also will continue to advocate we hold the line on spending on all non essential services.

In the end you the residents are our customers. While the municipal component of the local tax rate is less than $0.12 on the dollar (the local and regional board of education for example is in excess of $0.70) on the dollar, we still have an obligation to provide a significant amount of services with this amount. It is my hope that we’ll continue to do more with less, that we’ll invest in more technology designed to reduce cost, that we’ll invest in essential infrastructure repairs and other key matters while curbing discretionary spending overall.

Please tell us what you think. Howell is our community and so our budget and priorities need to reflect what you would like.  Please take part in the budget meetings and hearings, watch our progress on TV 77 and tell us what you think. As we progress with the budget I’ll make you aware of updates along the way.

In the event you have any questions with this or any issue in the interim, please call anytime or email me at MayorDiBella@twp.howell.nj.us.