Hopewell Township candidates run uncontested in Democratic and Republican primaries on June 8 ×
Hopewell Township Mayor Julie Blake runs for re-election in Democratic primary o June 8, PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIE BLAKE
When Hopewell Township residents vote in the the upcoming Democratic and Republican primaries, they will have two candidates running unopposed for an open seat on the Township Committee.
The June 8 Democratic and Republican primaries each feature a candidate running unopposed. Mayor Julie Blake, who is seeking re-election, is on the ballot for the Democratic primary and Edward Jackowski is pursuing his first term on the Township Committee as candidate in the Republican primary.
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
“Last night as I left for work I had my two kids crying for me not to go to work. I don’t think I’ve ever felt the way I did last night. And then I watched people I know and others I care about going into harm’s way. I love my police family like my own. So when you share posts and things on Facebook I’d really appreciate if you’d THINK before doing so. I’ve seen so many black lives matter [sic] hashtags in these posts. Just to let you know they are terrorists. They hate me. They hate my uniform. They don’t care if I die,” per the post written by fired officer
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.