Poll: What Do You Think of Proposed 2012 Municipal Budget?

New Providence Council President Michael Gennaro outlined the proposed 2012 Municipal Budget last Monday, although the formal presentation won't take place until Feb. 27.

Within the $16.8 million proposed budget, the borough would face an additional tax of $82,000 from 2011, the result of a 1.26 percent increase for total appropriations, less than the state-mandated 2 percent budget cap for municipalities. For individual homeowners, that would mean a $60 tax increase on the average assessed home of $282,000. 

The key drivers for the proposed budget are: reductions in staff through attrition, totaling $156,000 in savings for the borough; extending an existing garbage disposal agreement to save the borough $25,000; a reduction in the borough's pension allotment for a savings of $101,000; 28 percent reduction in the borough's electricity bill after electricity purchases were reverse auctioned on the Internet, for a savings of $53,000; and borough employees are now contributing to their health benefits.

One thing for residents to remember is that the taxes come from three components — Municipal, County and Board of Education — and this tax increase is only 22 percent of the total tax bill that residents would receive for 2012.

When questioned why the tax levy couldn't be zero percent this year, Gennaro said that would hurt the borough in the years ahead.

While the formal presentation won't be until Feb. 27, what do you think of the proposed 2012 Municipal Budget as it stands now? Share your comments below and take our poll.