Aberdeen Introduces $15 Million Municipal Budget

Editor's note: The total appropriations of the budget listed in this article was increased to $15 million. The originally reported number of $11.7 million indicated the total appropriations less the exclusions. The originally reported tax levy and tax rate were accurate and have not been changed.

The Aberdeen Township Council introduced an $15 million municipal budget for 2012 at their meeting last week. The spending plan currently includes an increase of $447,332.22 to the tax levy, bringing the amount to be raised by taxes to $9,400,645, according to Township Manager Holly Reycraft.

If this budget is approved as is, the tax rate would increase about four cents to 48.6 cents per $100 of assessed home valuation, Reycraft explained. The owner of an average home in Aberdeen Township, priced at approximately $280,000, would see a municipal tax increase of $128.80 a year.

According to Reycraft, the increase in taxes is not a direct increase in municipal spending.

"This tax increase is a direct result of tax appeal losses. As the town’s total ratable base declines, the tax rate increases even if the amount to be raised by taxes stayed the same," Reycraft explained. "Our budget remains fairly flat."

Reycraft said the budget and the tax rate may change before the budget is adopted if the township recieves additional state funding or grants.

A copy of the entire budget can be obtained at the clerk's office in the Aberdeen Township Municipal Building. The council will hold a public hearing on the budget at their May 1 meeting.