The Times of Trenton published the following article on 2/18/2014. To read the full article, click here.
Trenton budget presentation gets mixed reviews from council
Jenna Pizzi / February 18, 2014
A $2 million increase in the city’s total budget will be reflected in the tax bills sent out to city residents this quarter, as the tax levy is going up 2 percent, according to a presentation from the city’s budget officer tonight.
The budget will be introduced to council during its meeting Thursday. The budget includes $22.86 million in state aid approved by the state Department of Community Affairs in late January, according to Elana Chan, city budget officer.
As promised, the state gave 90 percent of the aid appropriated for last year’s budget, she said, allowing the city to move forward and approve a final budget for the 2014 fiscal year, which ends in June. The state aid accounts for just more than 12 percent of the total city budget.
To cover the entire $75.8 million total municipal tax levy, the total tax rate will increase by 9 cents to $3.84. For a home valued at $100,000, there will be a $90 municipal tax increase, Chan said.