HOWELL – A resident has called the integrity of the Howell Township Council into question and seconded another resident’s previous call for an investigation into how a former councilman was able to ask specific questions about the 2021 municipal budget before the document had been released to the public.
Resident Sheri Reavis has been a resident of Howell for 17 years, but the council’s April 27 meeting marked her first participation. She said she recently decided to pay more attention to local government.
During her comments, Reavis referred to the governing body’s April 13 meeting when council members introduced the 2021 municipal budget.
Howell council members introduce $54.8 million budget for 2021
HOWELL – The Howell Township Council has unanimously introduced a 2021 municipal budget that totals $54.84 million. Officials set May 11 as the date for a public hearing on the spending plan.
Mayor Theresa Berger, Deputy Mayor Thomas Russo, Councilman John Bonevich, Councilwoman Pamela Richmond and Councilwoman Evelyn O’Donnell voted “yes” on a motion to introduce the budget during the April 13 council meeting.
The 2021 budget will be supported by the collection of $29.2 million in a local tax levy to be paid by Howell’s residential and commercial property owners.
Municipal officials said that in the $54.84 million budget, $24.6 million will be appropriated to salaries; $25.4 million will be appropriated to non-discretionary other expenses; and $4.59 million will be appropriated to discretionary other expenses.