Mannington committee adopts 2019 budget, keeps local tax rate at 28.2 cents

The Mannington Township Committee adopted its 2019 municipal budget on second and final reading at a meeting on May 2, 2019, maintaining the local portion of the tax rate at 28.2 cents.

Mayor Asay opened the public hearing on the budget and said the local portion of the 2019 budget stayed the same as in recent years; there were no public comments and the hearing was closed. A motion by Committee member Patrick, seconded by Emel, passed on a roll call vote with Asay, Patrick and Emel voting yes.

The committee previously adopted a Self-Examination of Budget resolution under N.J.S.A. 40A:4-78b and relevant N.J.A.C. rules certifying that the township met Local Budget Law requirements and was eligible to assume the budget examination responsibilities normally performed by the Division of Local Government Services.

Separately, the committee adopted a resolution requesting insertion of a TRICO JIF Safety Incentive Grant in the amount of $2,255.00 into the 2019 budget under N.J.S.A. 40A:4-87; that motion carried with the same roll call votes. The committee also approved routine items including the bill list for payment and the minutes for April 4 and April 22, 2019.

The meeting record shows the committee followed the statutory process allowing the budget to be read by title only under N.J.S. 40A:4-8 after making a complete copy available to the public at least one week before the hearing.

The committee did not record any public objections at the hearing. The next procedural steps are ministerial: the adopted budget and required filings will be forwarded as specified in state law.