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Fiscal Stability in Challenging Times

After many years of preparing the annual budget for the Middle Township Police Department, I have a strong understanding of the challenges the Township Committee has faced in providing excellent municipal services at the most affordable cost to our taxpayers. These challenges persist as we work to finalize our 2024 budget. 

Inflation remains stubbornly high, affecting both operating and borrowing costs. Increased liability and health insurances prices have outpaced the inflation rate. Regulatory mandates from both the federal and state level increasingly complicate the daily operations of our departments, increasing expenses and staffing needs. 

Recognizing these fiscal pressures, Township Committee has introduced its 2024 municipal budget, which calls for a small increase to the local purpose tax rate. For the owner of a property assessed at $275,000, the increase in the rate would mean paying an additional $80 in taxes this year.

This increase will be 2.9 cents per $100 of assessed value. The rate will move from $0.566 to $0.595 which translates to an increase in appropriations over 2023 of $419,873. The budget for the dedicated sewer utility is $5.9 million, which is an increase of $387,813.

In 2023, Township Committee worked hard to stabilize spending and revenues against tough monetary headwinds. The result of those efforts is a much more stable budget in 2024, supported by the largest municipal surplus in recent Township history; just under $4 million. Approximately $2.2 million from this record surplus will be utilized to minimize the impact of this year’s small tax increase. The total budget of $27.5 million will increase by 2.4%, well under the current inflation rate.

On a positive note, the Township’s ratables (new and improved commercial and residential development) continued to grow steadily. In 2023, we saw ratables grow by over $40 million dollars. A steady and well-managed growth in ratables creates a larger pool of property taxpayers to share the cost of municipal services.  

The Township has also strived to develop revenue sources beyond property taxes, in order to diversify funding streams and share costs more equally among the users of Township services. In 2024, we expect to see revenue growth from our first full year of the occupancy tax on short-term rentals and the initiation of the 2% tax on the retail sale of cannabis products from the INSA recreational dispensary opening in a few months.

The bottom-line is that thanks to smart decision making in 2023, the Township finds itself on more secure financial footing in 2024. On behalf of Township Committee, we remain committed to spending your tax dollars wisely and reluctantly. Our budget is well-structured, our debt service is stable, our employee contracts are fair and reasonable. We have a great team in our Finance office, led by our Chief Financial Officer Neil Young. 

I want to thank Neil Young, Deputy CFO, Dan Shustack, Administrator, Kim Osmundsen, Police Chief, Jennifer Pooler, and all of our dedicated Department Heads for their commitment to providing our residents and business owners with great services at the lowest cost possible.

And thank you to our taxpayers. We appreciate your support every day and the trust you have placed in Township Committee to manage our hometown’s $33 million budget. 

A public hearing on the 2024 Budget is scheduled for the May 6th Township Committee Meeting.

Chris Leusner

Mayor, Middle Township

Nestled in the heart of Middle Township, Whitesboro was established in Cape May County, New Jersey, in 1901 as a town exclusively for African Americans. During its founding, local clergymen from Cape May’s African Methodist Episcopal Church partnered with several important African-American investors, the most notable of whom include former North Carolina Republican Congressman, George H. White, and prominent African-American educator, author, and orator, Booker T. Washington.

Whitesboro was envisioned as an economically independent community fostering property ownership, prosperous farms and businesses, and financial independence for African-Americans.

The Investors purchased 2,000 acres of land about ten miles north of Cape May. The lots were divided into 50 feet x 150 feet parcels and priced at $50 each. A down payment of $5 was required to purchase a lot and property owners had 10 years to pay off the initial purchase price.

The community was officially named in honor of Congressman White in March 1902. Many of the earliest residents migrated to the new settlement from North Carolina and Virginia. Prospective residents had to be of good character and needed to possess “steady and industrious habits.” 

Whitesboro’s population grew steadily in the early years and by 1910, the community was home to two churches, a schoolhouse, a railroad station, and a post office. The Whitesboro Grammar School served the community until 1967. 

According to the 2020 census, about 10% of the Township’s population resides in the Whitesboro community. The unique history of Whitesboro and its deeply embedded sense of community are fostered by the Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro and personified by the Annual Whitesboro Reunion Weekend held each Labor Day Weekend.

Whitesboro is home to the Township’s Martin Luther King Community Center and a new Whitesboro post office was opened in 2020.  

The Middle Township Environmental Commission (MTEC) was created to pursue a mission of fostering environmental awareness and promoting understanding and appreciation for protecting and sustaining our municipality’s abundant natural resources, which enhance quality of life for our residents and seasonal visitors.

The Board’s goals include advocating for the long-term protection of Middle Township’s natural resources, supporting the Township’s pursuit of sustainability, and acting as an environmental education resource for all citizens.

“The Environmental Commission carries out the vital mission of preserving the unique, rural nature of our hometown,” Mayor Chris Leusner said.

“I want to thank the dedicated members for their service and ongoing efforts to educate and inform our residents and visitors.”

MTEC’s PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES ARE:

• Advising the Township Committee, Planning Board and Zoning Board about open-space preservation and sustainable municipal policies and practices;

• Educating residents about environmental issues through programs, meetings, publications and news releases;

• Working with neighboring commissions and other organizations, including the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Soil Conservation Districts, local planning boards, boards of health and utilities authorities;

• Providing well-researched recommendations regarding the Township’s pursuit of alternative energy solutions, energy conservation and renewable energy resources based on the Township’s Energy Audit;

• Making well-researched recommendations related to local environmental issues, including: solid waste management and recycling; clean water resources; storm water management; air, noise and light pollution control; preservation and use of parks and other open spaces; land use; and protection of flora, fauna, soil and landscape, per the Township’s Master Plan Land Use Update;

• Maintaining and updating the Township’s Natural Resource Inventory.

The Environmental Commission participates annually in the Cape May County Earth Day celebration and the Middle Township Harvest Festival sharing information on environmental and sustainability initiatives. The Commission also maintains a link on the township’s website which directs to stories related to local environmental issues.

Past projects have included:

• Back Packs Snacks for Middle Township Elementary #1 students;

• Bag Up NJ – Awareness campaign on the plastic bag ban through community outreach.

Upcoming projects include:

• Raising awareness of native plants and seed giveaway;

• Community Bird House Initiative;

• Researching potential locations for an educational native plant garden;

• Public information campaign on recycling resources.

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