Brick Won't Adopt Its Municipal Budget Until June

Brick officials have delayed adopting the municipal operating budget for another month after federal funding earmarked for Sandy recovery has yet to be allocated.

The status of a $3.75 million essential services grant has yet to be solidified, prompting the township council to put off adopting its budget at the behest of state officials.

Council President Susan Lydecker opened up a mandatory public hearing Tuesday night as scheduled, but no vote took place afterwards. No residents spoke at the hearing.

"We got a call from [the office of] Local Government Services telling us we could not adopt the budget tonight," said Chief Financial Officer Scott Pezarras.

Depending on the disposition of the grant funding, "we may or may not have to have an amendment of the budget," he said.

The budget, developed by the administration of Mayor John Ducey, calls for a tax hike of about $67 for a home assessed at $258,000, the township's average. As proposed, the $97,338,613 operating budget would be supported by a $67,911,538 tax levy.

Lydecker said the reopening of the budget hearing and a final vote would likely occur at the June 24 council meeting. Until then, the township will continue to operate under a series of emergency temporary appropriations.