Woodbridge Residents, You're in For a $157 Tax Hike

for Woodbridge property owners, if the proposed township budget is approved. The budget submitted for the year by Mayor John McCormac is $124.6 million - up almost $5 million from the year before.

That translate to a $157 tax increase for homeowners with a house assessed at the township average of $75,000.

Township residents who want to make their opinion known can attend an open budget meeting in the today at 4:30 pm.

The announcement of the late afternoon meeting was not on the township's home page.

McCormac presented his budget to the town council at the August 21 council meeting. He said that the tax hike was due to "non-operational and uncontrollable costs," such as pension and insurance costs.

"I am pleased to report we are spending nearly $5 million less than the State of New Jersey allows us to spend," he said in a prepared statement to the council.

The mayor said that the township now has 120 fewer employees during the past six years, and that he has saved taxpayers money by having the township take over some functions for the Board of Education at a substantial saving.

He also claimed millions in savings due to solar panels installed on township public buildings.

McCormac said that he has brought new businesses into town which are generating jobs for unemployed Woodbridge residents. Those new businesses include the , to be situated at the former Great Indoors.

That store was to be open in October, but the in front of the building last week may have caused a delay in those plans.

The text of the mayor's speech can be read here.  

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