Borough Approves 2012 Municipal Budget, Taxes Up

After extending the deadline for its public presentation, the borough of Collingswood introduced and approved its 2012 municipal budget at the Monday meeting of borough commissioners—and taxes are going up.

The average household will see an approximate increase of $20, or 0.7¢ per $100 of assessed property value, in 2012-13. That figure is calculated based on a home valued at $233,000, the borough average.

The actual amount levied will increase from 87.9¢ per $100 of assessed property value in 2011 to 88.6¢ per $100 of assessed property value.

To maintain the same level of services borough residents have come to expect, Collingswood has enacted a variety of cost-cutting measures in recent years, including the layoffs of some 26 full-time employees since 2007. Yet commissioners said the proverbial wolf is still at the door.

In a prepared statement, Mayor James Maley cited a need for $890,000 worth of infrastructure improvements, including repairs to the local water systems, storm sewer inlets, and the roofs of both borough hall and the courthouse. Additional funds will be used to resurface roads throughout the borough.

In its 2012-13 budget, which was approved last week, the Collingswood school district shaved $34 in taxes per household on average. Taken together, a home valued at $233,000 would still come out ahead $14 over its 2011-12 rates based on the budgets approved by both bodies.

Collingswood commissioners will hold a public hearing on the budget on May 7 at 7 p.m. at the .

A complete budget document was not made available to the public at the time of the meeting. Stay with Patch for greater, in-depth analysis of the figures as they are released.