Aberdeen to Hold Public Hearing on $11.7M Proposed Budget

Aberdeen Township will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2012 municipal budget at 7 p.m. on May 1 at the . After the hearing, the council will vote on its adoption.

The proposed $11,700,533.22 municipal budget for 2012 was by the council on March 20. 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 the budget is approved as it was introduced, 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 after the budget was introduced. "Our budget remains fairly flat."

The public is encouraged to attend Tuesday's budget hearing in order to find out more about the proposed spending plan and to express any concerns to the council.

What are your thoughts on the proposed budget?