PLUMSTED		TOWNSHIP
Pride in Plumsted, the State's Center

Town Talk

Plumsted Township is poised to be one of a relatively few Municipalities in the State of New Jersey to have total property tax bills in 2008 with little or no increase. This year, all four statutorily authorized entities with their separate capabilities to levy taxes, the School, County, Township and Fire Commission, have either prepared or are in the process of finalizing 2008 budgets that would keep total tax dollars and rates at nearly the same level as last year. In years past, one or two of the tax levy entities may be capable of not raising additional tax dollars, but rarely, does it ever occur in one year that a School, County, Township and Fire Commission will adopt budgets resulting in total tax dollar increases being one (1) per cent or less.

This year in Plumsted, the School tax portion of the property tax bill, which is nearly 70% of the total, has a zero (0) increase in tax dollars as prepared by the Board of Education and to be voted upon by the residents on Tuesday, April 15, between the hours of 1 pm to 9 pm. With the support of our 30^th Legislative District representatives, Senator Singer, Assemblymen Malone and Dancer, the State implemented a new School “Adequacy” funding formula that resulted in Plumsted receiving nearly $2 million in additional State Aid. Also effective for the first time this year, is legislation that limits or caps the amount tax dollar increases to no more than 4% from the previous year. In Plumsted, the Board of Education kept the amount of taxes needed for the budget at last years’ level – a zero (0) per cent increase – while utilizing the nearly $2 million in additional State Aid to cover budget increases. For more information or questions concerning the School budget, please contact the School at 758-6800.

Regarding the other three components of a property tax bill, the County and Fire District have each adopted budgets with minimal changes from last year. The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders’ budget actually lowers the tax rate a few tenths, while the Fire Commissioners’ budget carries a few tenths of one cent increase.

The Township Committee has prepared a draft 2008 budget that is slightly less in total spending and tax dollars than last year. Governor Corzine and his administration have proposed to reduce State Aid to Municipalities with populations of less than 10,000. Plumsted’s population is an estimated 8,200 and if the Legislature approved the Governor’s proposal, Plumsted could lose $156,000 in State Aid. Our Legislative delegation, Senator Singer, Assemblymen Malone and Dancer, along with bi-partisan support, are advocating that State Aid to Municipalities should be based on efficiency formulas, rather than population figures. The Township remains hopeful that our Legislative representatives will be as successful in minimizing local government State Aid losses to the Budget, as they were in maximizing State Aid gains to our School. Regardless of the outcome, it is the resolve of the Township Committee to live within its’ means and not increase tax dollars or the local government tax rate of 9 cents. Of the 566 Municipalities in New Jersey that have a local government tax, there are only 6 Townships that have a tax rate less than Plumsted’s 9 cents.

Residents, Property and Business Owners are invited to attend a Public Hearing, on April 8, at 7:00 pm, in the Welcome Center, 31 Main Street, to provide comments to the $525,000 Neighborhood Preservation Program Grant obtained by the Township Committee in preparation of the 2008 / 2009 Strategic Work Plan. For further information, please contact our NPP / Main Street Organization’s, Executor Director, Peter Ylvisaker, at 609-758-6990. Residents are also encouraged to mark their calendars and attend this years’ observance of Earth Day, on April 19^th, at the Plumsted Library from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information, contact the Library at 609-758-7888.

Senior Citizens, who generally do not file a Federal Income Tax Return because their income (including Social Security) is below the financial threshold to do so, will not receive a check of $600 (married) or $300 (single) from the $168 Billion Economic Stimulus Program signed into law by President Bush. The Ocean County Office of Senior Services (1-800-668-4899) will help Seniors fill out the one page 1040A form to qualify them for the payments. For married couples, only $3,000 in annual income is needed to qualify for the $600 check. 

Senior Citizens in Plumsted Township, who need assistance in completing and filing their Federal and State income tax returns in advance of the April 15th deadline, are encouraged to call toll free the Ocean County Office of Senior Services at 1-800-668-4899. An experienced and trained volunteer tax aide is available at the Plumsted Library on Fridays, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. by appointment.

            The next regularly scheduled public meetings with the new administration of Township Committee members Dave Leutwyler, Steve Reed, Eric Sorchik, Deputy Mayor Mike McCue and Mayor Ron Dancer is Wednesday, May 7^th at 8:00 P.M.  Public comments and participation are encouraged at all Township Committee meetings. . Browse the Township website: www.plumsted.org and www.mainstreetne.org for more information and current events.

            As a result of the new Township Committee meeting schedule, the dates for the monthly one-on-one personal meeting sessions with Mayor Ron Dancer at the Library every month have also been revised. In 2007, meet personally with the Mayor at the Library on the second (2nd) Wednesday of each month (April 9^th) from 7 to 9 p.m. to discuss local concerns or State issues. Residents may call the Library (758-7888) in advance to schedule a specific time for your convenience. The Mayor encourages residents to contact him anytime at 758-2241x102 Township / 758-3497 Home / r.s.dancer@att.net

           Can't get to the meetings or the hours scheduled at the library. To discuss your concerns and issues personally with the mayor, click for more information.

For Federal issues, contact our Congressman Chris Smith at 609-585-7878 and for County matters, contact Freeholder Director, Joe Vicari at 1-800-722-0291. Browse the Township website: www.plumsted.org and www.mainstreetne.org or www.downtownnewegyptnpp.org for more information and current events.

Ron Dancer, Mayor

609-758-2241 Township - Ext 102

609-758-3497 Home

Email: r.s.dancer@att.net

www.plumsted.org