No Increase In Stafford Municipal Tax Rate This Year

by Patricia A. Miller

Stafford homeowners will pay the same amount in municipal taxes this year as they paid in 2013, according to the budget the Township Council unanimously adopted at the June 24 meeting.

"In lieu of Superstorm Sandy, the intent of the council was to keep the taxes as affordable as possible," Mayor John Spodofora said.

The 2014 budget totals $42,965,916. Appropriations within the state cap are $32,348,862. Appropriations outside the state cap total $8,534,412.

The amount to be raised by taxation is $32,084,925. The reserve for uncollected taxes totals $2,082,641.

"This budget shows no increase, zero increase in the tax rate, Spodofora said.

Phyllis Drive resident Robert McManus asked if any money was appropriated in the budget to dredge the lagoons in Beach Haven West.

"No sir, we do not," the mayor replied.

Officials from a number of municipalities met with the DEP yesterday to discuss ways to fund dredging lagoons, Spodofora said.

"We are all trying to figure this out," he said "The disposal of the dredge spoils exceeds the cost of dredging. The cost of dredging the lagoons is so astronomical, we have to look for outside help."

Township officials put the cost of dredging and disposing of dredge spoils at roughly $125 million, far beyond the township's bonding capacity.