LAKEHURST – Borough officials adopted this year’s municipal budget earlier this month. The spending plan will see an increase for homeowners.
Borough Chief Financial Officer Wayne Sibilia informed The Manchester Times that the total budget is $5,081,931.10 which represents an increase of 2.72% over last year’s total budget amount.
This year’s municipal tax levy is $2,826,665.69. Sibilia added, “that is an increase of 2.90% from last year’s levy and the 2024 municipal tax rate is 1.208. That is an increase of 2.24% over the previous year’s municipal tax rate.”
“The average residential assessment for 2024 is $253,471 and the 2024 municipal tax on an average residential assessment is $3,062. That is an increase of $72 per year and is 2.41% over last year’s tax on an average residential assessment,” Sibilia said.
The public hearing for the budget held earlier this month featured no public comments and was unanimously approved.
Mobile Home Service Fee
During a recent meeting, Geneva Road resident Bruce Margeson asked what the service fee for mobile home parks was for.
Council President Steven Oglesby explained that it is the formula used for pad fees. Municipal Clerk Maryanne Capasso further explained the formula and fee calculations and informed Margeson that it was a difference of .31 cents from last year.
New Position
Councilman Robert McCarthy stated that he and Mayor Harry Robbins met with the leadership of the Public Works Department to develop a day to day proceeding for a newly established position. Council President Oglesby stated that the Public Works Department was erecting walls at Lake Horicon to keep the sand from blowing off the beach.
Councilman McCarthy mentioned that the borough currently has one lifeguard, possibly two for Lake Horicon during the approaching summer season.
Council President Oglesby stated everything is being set in motion with proper job descriptions and they are also working on figuring out how to have a human resources department without having a human resources department.
The Council voted to authorize a professional services contract for engineering services to update the Borough’s Stormwater Management Plan, Stormwater Control ordinance and Pinelands Stormwater Control ordinances.
Other approved resolutions included a contract between Lakehurst and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFCSME) Council 635 and a contract to Martin A. Ackley Associates for a required New Jersey Department of Transportation core testing project.
