LARE: BUDGET NUMBERS LOOK MUCH BETTER THAN REPORTED

The reports that Lower Township was in a $1 million budget hole appears to be incorrect. Deputy Mayor Kevin Lare says that the township was at the new two percent tax cap before the governor’s budget address, but now the township’s proposed budget will come in at a 1.6 or 1.7 cent tax increase. Lare said he intends to work on the budget with council to get more cuts to bring it closer to zero. The township was anticipating another cut in state aid, but found out that aid will remain flat. Lare said this is great news and will bring an anticipated tax increase down.