Manasquan Introduces Budget with Average $35 Increase

The borough of Manasquan introduced its 2011 municipal budget on Monday evening.

The budget, which will be the subject of a public hearing on April 18, carries a tax increase of $35.13 for the average borough homeowner with an assessed property value of $501,800.

The $8,549,836.18 budget comes in a full $119,171 under the state-mandated 2 percent levy cap.

With a municipal tax rate of 0.347 per $100 of valuation, the average homeowner will play $1,741.26 in municipal property taxes this year.

The introduction comes after the long process of assessing departmental budget figures line by line and determining exacting where cuts could be made.

At a special meeting held on Saturday, March 12 that was not attended by any member of the public, the governing body pored through figures provided by department heads and made sacrifices wherever possible.

The result kept their increase to a "hard 2 percent."

A major hit to the borough this year was increases in health care and pension costs.

Though salaries and wages were down by $54,927.52 across all major departments, health care costs rose $37,152 and pension obligations increased by $101,771.21. 

While Councilman Owen McCarthy explained that the weight of health insurance and pension costs is not a problem unique to Manasquan, Councilwoman Patricia Connolly felt the borough should take a harder look at employment costs.

Connolly suggested employee furloughs and reduction in health care coverage, ideas which failed to take off during the budget session.

Councilman Don Grasso pointed out that while the borough has done much to cut spending, they would need to explore opportunities to create revenue.