LAKEHURST – The Mayor and Council introduced its tentative 2022 spending plan and passed a resolution concerning a self-examination of the budget during a recent meeting.
A public hearing on the budget will take place during the Council’s April 21 meeting. The complete spending plan is on the borough’s website. Borough Chief Financial Officer Wayne Sibilia will be present to answer questions from the public and governing body.
He told The Manchester Times that the total figure for the Borough’s tentative current fund budget was $4,437,920.28. Local taxes for municipal purposes for 2022 have been budgeted at $2,672,837.51. That marks an increase of $51,301.88 according to Sibilia.
The average home in Lakehurst is assessed at $161,133.19 and the proposed municipal local tax levy on an average home valuation is $2,979.35.
Resident Bruce Morrison wanted to know more details about the budget. He was told that as this was the introduction the best time to direct his questions was during the public hearing in April.
“The budget will be available, posted on the website as well,” Mayor Harry Robbins said. “They will be available at Borough Hall if you want a paper copy.”
Council President Steven Oglesby said that he and other members of the council recently attended a budget seminar in Trenton and that it proved informative. “I learned quite a bit.”
Councilwoman Patricia Hodges agreed saying, “it was well worth the trip. I want to commend our department heads, Borough Clerk Maryanne Capasso and members of our finance committee who made developing this budget as workable as it could be.”
“The seminar was very good,” Councilman Brian DiMeo added. He also reported that the borough’s Youth and Rec Committee was discussing getting back in action as the weather was improving and with the start of spring.
Council officials also passed a resolution awarding a contract for the Orange Street mill and overlay project being done by Swift & Sons Inc. Funding for this will come from a Community Development Block Grant.
Also approved was an agreement between the borough and Martin W. Lynch for a reassessment in the community. John Kern was appointed as the Reassessment Field Inspector. Mayor Harry Robbins explained at a prior meeting that the borough’s reassessment was ordered by Ocean County and that it may not necessarily mean higher taxes once the process is complete.
Councilman Jim Davis reported that the nursery will be delivering the cherry trees that will be planted in areas of the community. The cost of the trees will be covered by Dr. Brian Klohn. The mayor and council discussed honoring him along with Councilman Gary Lowe who died in February.
“I’d like to see us do something for Dr. Klohn. He’s done a lot for the community. This was rather generous,” Councilman Davis added.
“We have been discussing an engraved brick and dedicating a tree in their honor,” the mayor said. The first tree planted would be dedicated to Lowe and would probably be located in front of Borough Hall on Union Street. Dr. Klohn’s could be planted near his office also on Union Avenue.
“Dr. Klohn generously donated the money to purchase all 10 trees. He’s done a lot for this community,” Mayor Robbins said. He noted the opportunity that if anyone wanted to sponsor a brick that would have an engraving to be dedicated to an individual that could be placed in front of a tree to let the town know.
Councilman Davis noted “that as a point of information there is a hole that looks like it is there for the planting of a tree. That is not a tree. They were just looking for a water shut off so don’t be alarmed. There is no tree going there.”
He also noted that materials for the repair of the pavilion at Horicon Lake would soon be delivered and work on the pavilion would commence.
Mayor Robbins noted Councilman Lowe’s dedication in getting the tree project moving and to see its progression in the last several months.
