BERKELEY – The Township Council introduced a bond ordinance that would provide for $4,560,000 worth of purchases.
By law, the township has to pay a small down payment up front, so the ordinance appropriated a total of $4.8 million.
The money is going toward a variety of departments. For example, at the Forrest Hill soccer field, there will be beach ramp boards, drainage, and a camera security system.
At the police department, vehicles will be outfitted, and traffic control devices, radios, computers and other equipment will be purchased. The Division of Emergency Medical Services will replace a Stryker Power Pro Stretcher and remount an ambulance.
The Division of Streets and Roads will receive a truck with plow and salter, a Ford F450 mason dump truck, Tink claw, and stormwater repairs. The Division of Sanitation and Recycling will get a sanitation truck, automated truck arms, and a Ford F250.
The Division of Buildings and Grounds will be purchasing a Ford F250 and a field groomer. The Division of Vehicle Maintenance will be investing in a variety of new tools.
For the Department of Engineering, project planning will be part of the bond. This includes road improvements and looking at watersheds and drainage.
The bond ordinance was introduced at the most recent Township Council meeting. Every ordinance requires a second reading where the public can comment on it. This will likely be at the council’s May 19 meeting, which takes place at 6 p.m. at the municipal building, 627 Pinewald-Keswick Road. Ordinances go into effect 20 days after the second reading.
Revaluation On The Way
Last year, the state ordered the township to undergo a revaluation of all properties, but the new values won’t affect your tax bill for some time.
A revaluation is when a third party company is hired to look at every piece of land and any buildings on it. They determine the new valuation of that property. That new value will be what your taxes will be based on.
A town is ordered to undergo this process once the values are more than 15% away from what they are supposed to be. According to Ocean County Tax records, Berkeley’s values are 37.36% lower than where they need to be. A large number of other municipalities were also around this mark on the 2024 Equalization Table.
The township went out to bid for companies to perform the work last year. At the most recent meeting, they awarded the job to Professional Property Appraisers, Inc.
Officials said it could take a few years before the new property values are set.
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