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Hopewell Township adopts $24.7M municipal budget for 2021
Members of the Hopewell Township Committee have adopted a $24.78 million budget for municipal operations in 2021.
Mayor Julie Blake, Deputy Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning, Committeewoman Kristin McLaughlin, Committeeman Kevin Kuchinski and Committeeman Michael Ruger voted “yes” for the budget’s adoption on May 17. The budget’s introduction occurred on April 19.
Since introduction the budget has increased from by $121,298 from $24.6 million to $24.78 million, due to increased appropriations to legal services, streets and roads salary and wages and public health salary and wages.
“As I understand it under general appropriations we are putting aside additional monies to protect us from ongoing litigation as it relates to affordable housing and personnel,” Kuchinski said. “Then we are also conditionally having money on the public health line for a community outreach person and then for streets and roads we are wor
Planning board asked to determine if Reed Road property is an area in need of redevelopment
The Hopewell Township Committee has approved a resolution directing the planning board to determine if the property site adjacent to the Zaitz Tract properties qualifies as an area in need redevelopment.
The property site location is at 1646 Reed Road and is near the intersection of Reed and Diverty Roads. The properties the make up the Zaitz Tract are next to the property off of Reed Road, which would be the new home to a Hopewell Valley Senior and Community Center.
The resolution was approved on May 3. Mayor Julie Blake, Deputy Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning, Committeewoman Kristin McLaughlin, Committeeman Kevin Kuchinski and Committeeman Michael Ruger voted “yes” on the measure.
The Hopewell Township Committee’s public hearing for the township’s 2021 municipal budget is scheduled for May 17.
Mayor Julie Blake, Deputy Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning, Committeewoman Kristin McLaughlin, Committeeman Kevin Kuchinski and Committeeman Michael Ruger voted “yes” on the budget’s introduction, which occurred on April 19.
Hopewell Township’s municipal appropriations are increasing from $23.59 million in 2020 to $24.6 million in 2021. Residential and commercial property owners support the appropriations through a tax levy.
The tax levy is increasing from $16.07 million in 2020 to $16.5 million for 2021 budget.
According to budget documents, the current budget includes an increase in the municipal tax rate, which is expected to be 43.4 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. In 2021, the owner of a home that is assessed at $475,000 pays $2,061 in municipal taxes.
Township committee members elect Julie Blake as mayor
Township committee members elect Julie Blake as mayor
Hopewell Township has a new mayor and deputy mayor at the helm of the township committee for 2021.
During the township committee’s reorganization meeting on Jan. 4, Julie Blake was nominated and elected by fellow members of the committee to become Hopewell Township’s next mayor.
Courtney Peters-Manning is now Hopewell Township’s deputy mayor after her nomination and election.
Blake takes over the duties of mayor from Township Committeewoman Kristin McLaughlin, who nominated Blake for mayor in 2021.
“I want to acknowledge the hard work and grace that Mayor Kristin McLaughlin has shown these past two years, along with Deputy Mayor Michael Ruger,” Blake said. “The time and effort that their leadership has provided to us as residents has been outstanding, especially during the many crises we faced this year.”