Morristown holds line on town taxes for fifth straight year

Mayor Tim Dougherty outlines the 2015 Morristown budget. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Mayor Tim Dougherty outlines the 2015 Morristown budget. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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Video: Mayor’s 2015 budget message

By Kevin Coughlin

For the fifth straight year, municipal taxes are holding steady in Morristown.

Mayor Tim Dougherty introduced a $47.3 million spending plan on Tuesday that does not raise the local portion of residents’ tax bills.

Mayor Tim Dougherty outlines the 2015 Morristown budget. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Mayor Tim Dougherty outlines the 2015 Morristown budget. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Someone owning a home assessed at $350,000, the town average, will pay $3,545.50 in local taxes in 2015, the same as last year.

Overall, however, that same taxpayer will pay $101.50 more in property taxes, because of an increase from the Morris School District.

Morristown’s budget, which will be posted on the town website, includes a $36.5 million operating fund, $2.5 million for capital improvements, and $8. 3 million for the sewer utility. (Numbers are rounded.) The amount to be raised by taxes is $22.4 million.

While acknowledging he had hoped to deliver a decrease, as he has done twice in the past, the Mayor said he was proud of this spending plan.

Mayor Tim Dougherty and former town Sustainability Coordinator Paul Miller with Sustainable New Jersey plaque conferring 'Bronze' status on Morristown's sustainability efforts. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Mayor Tim Dougherty and former town Sustainability Coordinator Paul Miller with Sustainable New Jersey plaque commending Morristown’s sustainability efforts with a ‘Bronze’ award. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

“It’s not bad,” said the Mayor, praising his department heads and calling town Administrator Michael Rogers the finest in the state.

“I’m not afraid to raise taxes,” the Mayor added after Tuesday’s council meeting. “But the economy is still not back. People are still struggling with fixed incomes. Property taxes are high in New Jersey. If I can keep good Morristown people in their homes by keeping taxes stable, that’s what I’ll do.”

The council voted 6-0 (Alison Deeb was absent) to introduce the budget.  Another vote to adopt it is likely to follow a public hearing on May 12, 2015.

SECRET SAUCE?

While this budget falls below the state-imposed 2 percent budget cap by more than $800,000, the municipal tax levy actually is up by about $25,500.

So why aren’t residents’ tax bills rising accordingly?

The Mayor said the town’s tax base has expanded by $2.6 million, picking up the slack. Payments-in-lieu-of-taxes amounting to $200,000 are projected from the Modera 44  apartment complex and a CVS pharmacy nearing completion, the Mayor said.

And more taxes are starting to come in from projects like the 40 Park and 7 Prospect St. condos, according to Rogers, the administrator.  Plus, the town anticipates closing soon on the $1.66 million sale of its property rights at Headquarters Plaza.

The budget also benefits from use of $2.4 million from a $4.4 million surplus, Rogers said.

An increase in health insurance premiums mostly is offset by larger contributions from employees, as mandated by the state, he said.

Morristown has been chipping away at its debt, down to $28.5 million from more than $70 million a decade ago, said the Mayor, who has insisted upon a pay-as-you-go approach to sewer utility costs.

State aid remains unchanged from its 2011 level of $2,868,599, while pension obligations are up by $246,000.  But overtime for the public works department was down this winter (about $268,000, compared with about $350,000 a year ago), because there was less snow to plow, Rogers said.

The groundwork for tax stability was laid in 2010 and 2011 with staff reductions, the administrator said. Morristown’s government is down from 214 employees (199 fulltime, 15 part-time) in 2009 to 185 now (175 FT, 10 PT).  One full-time position, an assistant treasurer,  has been added over the last year, he said.

“I’m happy we were able to maintain a stable municipal tax rate and not burden our taxpayers any more than we are,” said Rogers. “Everybody would like a decrease, but we do have rising costs to offset.”

LOW CRIME, HIGH HOPES

Crime statistics suggest this is “one of the safest periods in recorded Morristown history,” said the Mayor, promising “equitable” compensation — within cap limits– for police and five more unions whose contracts are up for renegotiation this year.

The Mayor said money has been added for hourly special officers to improve commuter traffic flow around the Green and along Speedwell Avenue, and for seven-day enforcement of property maintenance codes, and seven-day street sweeping and downtown cleanup by public works crews.

A total of $351,000 has been budgeted for legal salaries and fees, Rogers said.

An additional $85,000 has been allocated for planning work, and $40,000 is earmarked for the Shade Tree Commission to continue replacing trees lost in Superstorm Sandy.

Mayor Tim Dougherty issues Arbor Day proclamation to the Shade Tree Commission--which stands to get $40,000 for tree plantings in the 2015 town budget. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Mayor Tim Dougherty issues Arbor Day proclamation to the Shade Tree Commission–which stands to get $40,000 for tree plantings in the 2015 town budget. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Requested capital projects include $280,000 for a new soccer field, baseball backstop and playground for George Gramby Park, and $100,000 for revitalization of Martin Luther King Avenue.

Nearly $1 million in grants, meanwhile, are slated for improvements to Patriots Path, Washington Street, and the Early Street Community Garden, the Mayor said.

“Unquestionably, Morristown’s government has restored fiscal integrity, improved service delivery and public safety, and alleviated the local tax burden for our property owners,” the Mayor said. “For these reasons, among many others, Morristown is a place where people want to be.”

 

 

 

 

 

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