Brick’s Proposed Municipal Budget Includes a Nearly Two Cent Tax Hike

Brick taxpayers owning an average $248,000 home would have to pay about $48 dollars more a year under the Township Council’s proposed budget introduced last week, which includes a 1.9 cent tax increase, primarily due to ongoing Super Storm Sandy recovery. 

Mayor John Ducey said the $98,917,050 spending plan for 2015 is slightly more than the 2014 budget by about .05 percent, and down from the 2013 budget by $1,765,830.

“This year on our budget, Sandy alone would have increased our taxes  5.62 cents,” said Ducey. He explained, “We have to make a payment of $3.5 million dollars for recovery costs as part of a five-year payback plan.  Although FEMA has authorized funds, the state still has not released all of them, and then we still have a loss of $1.94 million in taxes due to loss of ratables.”

Ducey said that was surprising because after Sandy, everyone expected a slow climb up after a five-year period.  “Last year our ratable base did go up, but this year it tanked. It was actually lower over $500-million more of a loss in ratable than we had last year,” he said, pointing out it was the exact opposite of what was expected to happen.

The Township lost $561-thousand more last year in its ratable base, according to Ducey.  To avoid a higher tax increase, Ducey said the Township reorganized the building department and reduced expenses.

“We cut over $700,000 of overtime from the year before. Our Building Department for the first time in 20 years actually had positive net income, and that was due to the face that we actually have our own inspectors. We were able to hire ten new people in town rather than have a shared service agreement with Toms River,” said Ducey. He pointed out that instead of Brick losing about $400,000 a year, the Township actually made money.

The budget includes $14.7 million in debt service, owed for big capital projects, according to Ducey. “Last year I started a debt-reduction plan, so our debt is down $5.43 million, and even though I made all of those cuts in the capital program, we’re still going to have three new parks this year. We still have many roadway and drainage projects going on, we’re still buying new police cars, and new trucks,” said Ducey.

The excessive spending the Township did away with includes Trader’s Cove Marina, off Mantoloking Road, which has cost the Brick more than $22 million, according to Ducey.  He added the Township is looking to build a restaurant on the property that would be fully funded by whichever establishment submits the highest bid. Ducey said at least nine restaurants have expressed interest so far.

The budget includes money for upgrades to Lake Riviera Park in the southern part of the Township, Angela M. Hibbard Park in the center of the Township, and Colorado Park in the northern section, which Ducey said probably haven’t been upgraded in 25 to 30 years.  Some of the upgrades include dog parks, new courts and fields, and playground areas and equipment.

The budget maintains all municipal services, including garbage and recycling pick-up, police protection, and includes paving projects.

Ducey noted the Detective Bureau has outgrown its space, so the Township has set aside money to redo the entire facility and build a firing range as part of its capital project.  “The Police Firing Range is something that they need that will save us money. Firing Ranges are very expensive, and the State Police have actually told us we can no longer use Allaire because we have too many officers, and we’re taking up too much of their time. The Firing Range will be built up at the Department of Public Works compound off Sally Ike Road,” Ducey added.

A public hearing on the proposed municipal budget is scheduled for April 21, 2015.