Vernon introduces 2015 budget

VERNON — Township Mayor Victor Marotta unveiled the budget for the 2015 fiscal year, announcing there will be no increase in the budget for the fourth straight year.

While the municipal taxes have not been increased the tax rate is slightly higher for a total of an average of $12.75 per $218,720 property value.

The overall township budget was decreased from last year by 2.5 percent. Among the decreased budget items were, the salary of the mayor, legal accounts for the Mayor and Township Council, a reduction for an outside appraiser and a change in the Township insurance.

With those funds available the Township was able to hire more police and reduce debt, Marotta said.

One highlight presented by Chief Financial Officer Elke Yetter was a decrease in delinquent taxes. Yetter said the delinquent taxes were reduced by $385,000 and the township was able to collect 97.2 percent of taxes owed.

The majority of the budget at goes towards municipal purposes, of which the largest appropriations are allocated for general government, public safety and township insurance. The largest allocation is for public safety, which consists of police, fire departments and emergency services.

A new line item in the public safety portion of the budget was a yearly stipend to be paid to volunteer emergency personnel. The stipend was discussed at the previous Township Council Meeting on Feb. 23.

There will be a public hearing on the budget at 7 p.m. on April 14 before the township council meeting. The council will vote on adopting the budget after the hearing.