COUNCIL , from Page 1 Hammonton ’ s Chief financial Officer congratulated council on a zero-tax increase for the current fund , and explained the necessity for a resolution to amend the budget to account for funds from the american rescue Plan ( arP ).
“ Preliminarily , we were supposed to receive money of any revenue loss . When the final regulations came out about two
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weeks ago , they weren ’ t going to give you revenue loss for anything in water and sewer revenue losses ; just in the general fund . that ’ s why you ’ ll see the amendment there ,” Scharle said .
Scharle said that , originally , the town had anticipated utilizing some of the american rescue Plan funds for loss in utility revenue .
“ Due to the requirements , we
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weren ’ t allowed to send out delinquency notices last year for any water recipients . What happens is , we had a $ 200,000 loss in revenue in the water utility . We were able to make that up , because debt fell off and things like that . We weren ’ t self-liquidating last year , so we have to pick that up this year . Plus , we had to pick up down payment money this year in the utility , but we ’ re still no rent increase . right now , we ’ re allowed to send out delinquencies , but we ’ re not allowed to collect interest , and we ’ re not allowed to put it in a tax sale until at least December 31 , and it does hurt all the water utilities in the state of New Jersey right now ,” Scharle said .
Scharle noted that the town has experienced a “ zero tax increase two out of the last three years ; even last year was less than a penny .”
“ You continue to be fiscally responsible . the 2021 budget is $ 194,000 less than the 2020 budget . that ’ s a good thing ,” Scharle said .
Scharle said that the town also had to account for a cost-of-living adjustment ( COLa ) increase .
“ We had some expenses that we had to do — pensions keep going up and things like that . With the 3.5 percent COLa , we ’ re still $ 164,000 under the 3.5 percent . in our tax cap , we ’ re still $ 322,000
Wednesday , July 7 , 2021 • The Hammonton Gazette • Page 3
Town CFO Scharle discusses American Rescue Plan funds
under the tax cap for the town ,” Scharle said .
Later in the discussion of the budget , Councilman Steven furgione asked Scharle for the “ final , final numbers ” from the american rescue Plan . Scharle said that the total allocation is $ 3.327 million .
“ in this budget , we ’ ve used $ 231,000 in the current fund for revenue loss of last year . We still have $ 3.096 million available to 2024 . We ’ ll do the calculation again next year for revenue loss , because you can keep carrying it forward . However , most of the majority of the funding should be for water and sewer infrastructure . i already talked to our auditor , Leon Costello . He ’ s been very involved with the state , with respect to the arP . We already did an ordinance earlier this year , and we ’ re going to look at that maybe being able to fund that instead of going out for debt , being able to fund that through the arP , and then we still have another $ 1.6 million available for any future projects going forward for water and sewer infrastructure — which is a good thing . free money ’ s good ,” Scharle said .
See TOWN , Page 14
Man arrested on warrant
by Gabe Donio
Gazette Staff Writer
HaMMONtON — a man was arrested on a warrant following a suspicious person call at 10:58 p . m . on July 1 on the prime block of S . White Horse Pike ( route 30 ), Hammonton Police Chief Kevin friel said .
“ a male subject and a female subject were looking into the windows of a vehicle at Walmart ,” friel said .
Officer Kyle ambrozaitis responded and met with Louis Keller iii ,
33 , of Mays Landing , friel said . “ He locked his keys in his vehicle ,” friel said . Keller was found to have an active warrant from franklinville in the amount of $ 2,502 , friel said . He was placed under arrest , processed and released with a new court date in franklin twp ., friel said . ambrozaitis was the arresting officer , friel said .
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