New Brunswick Taxes Likely To Stay Flat

From New Brunswick officials:

Taxes in New Brunswick are expected to remain flat for the coming fiscal year, according the 2014 city budget, unveiled at the April 16 City Council meeting.  

The Municipal and Library tax rate will remain the same in 2014. Accordingly, taxes will remain flat. Through this spending plan, all municipal services will be maintained or expanded.

The budget includes the hiring of four new firefighters and 20 new police officers in 2014. This additional staff will result in increased neighborhood and City-wide safety, as well as added area security for large-scale events such as the Big 10 season.

It also covers all winter storm expenses incurred earlier this year, the furnishing of the Remsen Avenue Fire Museum, and continued upgrades to the Water Treatment Plant, including improvements to water storage tanks and filtration systems.

This budget takes special care to accommodate the continued roll-out of the City’s Complete Streets Policy, including improvements to French Street, traffic signal replacements, barrier-free improvements, and the repaving of Suydam Street, inclusive of bike lanes.

New lighted flashing crosswalks will also be installed at the intersections of Throop and Suydam and Charles Street and Joyce Kilmer Avenue, and bike corrals are to be put in at various locations throughout the City.

Other expansions include the continuation of a plan to renovate Recreation Park and three planned Ciclovia dates in 2014.

“We anticipate being able to continue to offer fine, high quality programs and services that enhance the lives of our residents,” said Mayor Jim Cahill.