ON-LINE TAX OR SEWER FEE PAYMENT IS HERE!
Montgomery residents may now pay for property taxes or sewer fees online by using our quick, convenient and secure online payment system. You will need to enter the account number or last name of the party whose name is on the bill.
Residents may choose from either of two electronic payment method options: MasterCard/Visa which incurs a 2.99% convenience fee or by e-check (ACH debit) for which there is no convenience charge.
This online service is one of the many steps that the Township of Montgomery is taking to make municipal services more readily available to its residents.
Montgomery Database Maps Now On-line
Montgomery map-based public info can now be accessed on-line. “Geoweb Map”, as Montgomery’s system is known, is now available on the internet as a free service to the public.
‘Databased’ info includes property owner and tax assessment info, tax maps, zoning info and ordinances, subdivision plats and as-built plans, polling locations and census statistics. Locations of natural resources, flood insurance maps, sewer service areas, proximity to fire hydrants (for insurance purposes) & USGS quad maps are also searchable.
Montgomery Township Geoweb Map applications are available by visiting the township's website at www.montgomery.nj.us and clicking on Interactive Maps in the left-hand menu in red.
The township is gauging interest in conducting free public training. “We are available to provide an hour long introductory class on the “how to” of map-based info searches,” according to Montgomery’s Senior GIS Specialist Patrick McDonald.
If interested in training classes, please contact Mr. McDonald at (908) 359-8211 ext. 276 or pmcdonald@twp.montgomery.nj.us. It is also suggested that interested persons sign up for Montgomery Twp. e-bulletins at www.montgomery.nj.us. If sufficient public interest is expressed, class details will be sent out via email and posted on the township website.
“GIS technology is making it much easier, faster, and more efficient to manage all of the various types of geographic-related data the Township has to maintain and utilize,” said Robert Marmion, Montgomery CAD/GIS Director. “Most estimates have shown that more than 80% of the information managed by a municipality is of a geographic nature.”
Besides the general public; intended users of these applications include current and potential residents, township professionals, volunteer board members, emergency response personnel, engineers, surveyors, property appraisers, title companies, mortgages companies, realtors, other local, county, state, and federal agencies, and private consultants who need this information.
Montgomery Township began working with Geographic Information System (GIS) technology in1999. The township was the pilot GIS program for all of Somerset County earlier this decade. Grants dramatically reduced the costs of the township developing its GIS technology. Around 2005 the township created the Geospatial Information Technology Department to better serve the township’s spatial (geographic) data needs.
"The Montgomery Guide" Now Available On-line
The Montgomery Guide gives an overview of Montgomery government and community. It is now posted for viewing or download on the township website at www.montgomery.nj.us. It contains key contacts and info on our leadership and each department of the municipal offices. It also has info on emergency and fire services, voting and elections, recreational and cultural opportunities, County resources, senior services, hotlines and much more. The Guide can be picked up at the front reception desk of the municipal building, 2261 Rt. 206, or the Otto Kaufman Community Center, 356 Skillman Rd., M-F, 8-4:30.
If you are a new resident we also have a welcome packet for you! The New Resident Packet includes the above-described Montgomery Guide and is also packed with helpful brochures and flyers on need-to-know topics for new residents. Recycling schedule, sewer or septic care, voter registration forms, dog license forms, maps of township parks – these are some items in the new resident packet. (Available for free at the reception desk of the municipal building, 2261 Rt. 206, where new households can also pick up their recycling bucket.)
HOMEOWNERS – Things You Should Consider”
The Somerset County Coalition on Affordable Housing (SCCOAH) is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency that has helped its clients overcome their housing hurdles for over 20 years.
“Homeowners – Things You Should Consider” is an in-depth educational program for current homeowners. This FREE program will ensure that your home ownership experience continues to be a successful and positive one. It is offered only one time per year and is held in the month of February to allow homeowners with property tax questions enough time to submit appeals (4/1/10 is NJ deadline) or get answers.
“Many homeowners recognize that their home value is less now than in previous years and therefore feel their tax assessment is too high, but do not understand the tax appeal process.” stated Realtor Judy Lewis, SCCOAH Board Member.
The program is scheduled for February 25, 2010 and will be held at the Somerville Elks Lodge, 375 Union Avenue, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. The program begins promptly at 5:15 pm and ends at 8:15 pm and will include a light dinner.
Montgomery Township, Schools Picked for Solar Program
Montgomery Township's community center and three of its schools are among an initial pool of public facilities included in Somerset County's Renewable Energy Program. They have been targeted as suitable sites for solar photovoltaic panel installations by the Somerset County Improvement Authority (SCIA). Program participants will partner with the County to reduce their retail electricity cost with no out of pocket cost to them.
The proposed projects include a rooftop 16 kW size solar PV panel system on the Otto Kaufman Community Center, a 1031 kW rooftop system at Montgomery High School, a 426 kW ground-mounted system at the Upper Middle School, and a 380 kW rooftop system at Orchard Hill Elementary School. Montgomery High School is the largest project the SCIA has identified to date.
Montgomery Mayor Mark Caliguire stated, "We are thrilled to be included in the County's plan. By working together, our community and others will benefit from the program's economy of scale. Besides the savings, this is also a wonderful educational opportunity - our students will learn first hand what solar technology can do."
Some benefits to the Township include:
§ No upfront costs to the Township
§ Better economies of scale - aggregated county-wide RFP
§ Better pricing of the power purchase agreement
§ Ability for smaller facilities to take part in a PPA
§ Budgeting certainty
Each local entity will sign a license agreement and a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with a bidding private solar developer. By this agreement, the locality agrees to allow the leasing of their space and receives in return a reduced contracted charge for their electricity for years, with no upfront costs for installation. This approach allows the private developer to obtain federal energy credits and share the offset with both the SCIA and the hosts. By bundling the projects together, the SCIA can negotiate a better price per watt of electricity.
Montgomery Township Committee is expected to adopt a resolution at its meeting tonight agreeing to participate and to assist the SCIA in preparing documents needed for bond issuance. All the projects will be funded through the Authority's Somerset County Renewable Energy Lease Revenue Bonds, not to exceed $55 million. The initiative is completely tax payer neutral. The SCIA bond debt service will be paid by the selected solar developer(s). It is anticipated that the initiative will begin in late July with the issuance of a RFP for development of the electric-generating systems at the various public facilities.
Over 30 projects are included in this first of three planned pools or "tranches". Other towns included in this tranche are Bound Brook, Bridgewater, Franklin, and Manville. Other school districts include Branchburg, Bridgewater-Raritan, Franklin, Green Brook, Manville, and Somerville. A project at Raritan Valley Community College is also included.
Montgomery Township and the other participants answered a feasibility survey and underwent a
detailed technical analysis by which facilities were evaluated for viability. The assessment included the current electricity use at the facility, the availability of adequate, unobstructed roof or ground-mounting space and southern sun exposure, and the age and condition of roof.
The State of New Jersey Master Plan calls for the state to meet or exceed a goal of 30% energy from renewable sources by 2020. "The Solar Energy Advancement and Fair Competition Act" was signed into law this January. The Act requires development of 4,335 MW of New Jersey based solar electric power by 2026. At the end of last year, the State of New Jersey has installed 126 MW of solar capacity. Use of solar PV systems lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependent on fossil fuel energy sources.
Karen Zimmerman, the Director of the Otto Kaufman Center, is so glad their building was selected.
"I'm looking forward to lower energy bills while generating clean energy at our community center!"
Arbor Day Foundation Names Montgomery Tree City USA® Community
Montgomery, NJ, was recognized by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA community for its commitment to urban forestry.
It is the eighteenth year Montgomery has earned this national designation.
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.
Montgomery has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA community. Tree City USA communities must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
“We commend Montgomery’s elected officials, volunteers and its citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest,” said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees provide numerous environmental, economical and health benefits to millions of people each day, and we applaud communities that make planting and caring for trees a top priority.”
Communities that earn Tree City USA recognition not only have taken the time to meet the four standards, they know that trees:
· Promote healthier communities by filtering the air we breathe by removing dust and other particles.
· Moderate climate, conserve water and provide vital habitat for wildlife.
· Reduce the heat island effect in urban areas caused by pavement and buildings.
· Increase property values and reduce energy use and add beauty to our homes and neighborhoods.
More information about Tree City USA can be found at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.
Montgomery Introduces Reduced 2010 Municipal Budget
The 2010 Montgomery Township Municipal budget has been introduced. The proposed tax rate is flat at thirty cents per $100 value. This is the same rate as in 2009 and 2008. The average municipal tax is projected to be $1,521 on a home assessed at the township average of $507,138.
The total municipal budget for 2010 is $25,772,876. This represents a reduction of 10.39% or $2,986,972 from the 2009 budget of $28,759,848.
Like most municipalities, Montgomery continues to grapple with decreases in revenue, including a 23.6% decrease in state aid this year, down to $1.38 M from $1.81 M in 2009, less development activity, and associated permit fees; coupled with significant increases in costs associated with utilities, pension payments, health insurance, road salt, affordable housing mandates, and water service.
Montgomery Mayor Mark Caliguire commented on the budget:
"These are extraordinary economic times in New Jersey. Taxpayers are literally tapped out and the township committee went into this budget season aware that it was imperative that we not add to an already onerous property tax burden. I am proud to say that with a lot of hard work and with a number of tough decisions we did achieve our goal," he said.
The 2010 budget reflects cuts associated with:
- Reduced workforce through layoffs, work hour reductions, and attrition (down 34 positions since 2005).
- Continued salary freeze for all non-union employees with additional health insurance contribution requirement.
- Implementing employee cost-saving suggestions, including incentives to reduce employee multiple carrier coverage for health insurance.
- Transition to regional services, including feasibility studies regarding consolidation of municipal court, code enforcement, tax assessment and police services.
- A $0 capital improvement budget.
- Reduced services, including foregoing this year's Independence celebration and changes to the township newsletter, which is no longer printed and mailed but is distributed electronically.
- Substantial cuts to budgets for recreation, parks & playgrounds, clerk, finance, GIS, tax assessment, and construction/code.
- Library and EMS aid cuts. Montgomery Township reduced by half from the previous year its funding to the Mary Jacobs Library, but still provided $42,500. Volunteer emergency medical services aid has been cut to $32,500 from $48,000.
Municipal services provided include public safety, road maintenance/repair and snow plowing, public health, animal control, parks and recreation, senior programs and services, code enforcement, engineering, planning and zoning, capital projects, emergency management, municipal court, recycling, and utility services such as street lights and fire hydrants.
A property owner may calculate his or her municipal taxes for 2010 by multiplying the assessed value of the property by .003. Note: this does not include taxes for public schools, county services, fire district, county library system, or open space.
Until a final tax levy is determined for the school district, which is being reviewed by the NJ Dept. of Education, the percentage breakdown of a tax bill for the municipal portion versus the remainder of the property tax bill cannot be determined. To give some idea of relative proportions, last year the municipal budget (2009) represented about 11.5% of the property tax bill. The remaining portion consists of school taxes (about 68.1% in 2009), county taxes (17.4% in 2009), fire district taxes (1.5% in 2009) and the open space tax (1.5% in 2009).
The municipal budget was introduced June 3rd and a public hearing will be held on July 1st when the proposed budget is slated for adoption. A copy of the budget is available in the Office of the Municipal Clerk, 2261 Rt. 206, Belle Mead during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each weekday. Call 908-359-8211 for information.
Current Road Conditions - Further Storm Clean-up Details
From Montgomery Twp. Police: Here is this morning's status report of road closures and reopenings in Montgomery:
Rt 601 (The Great Rd.) Between Inverness North & Inverness South - Reopened
Rt. 533 (Millstone River Rd.) - Between Staats Farm & Rt. 206 (Still Closed between Staats Farm and Griggstown Causeway, detour available, reopened otherwise)
Rt. 605 (Kingston - RH River Rd.) - Reopened from Rt. 518 in Rocky Hill to Blue Spring Rd. Still closed between Blue Spring Rd. and Princeton Twp. Border
Griggstown Causeway - Closed
East Mt Rd. from Rt 601 at Carrier Clinic north to Hillsborough - Reopened
Opossum Rd. Bridge - Reopened
Provinceline Rd. - Between Rt. 518 & Railroad crossing - Reopened
Dutchtown Zion - East of Pin Oak - Reopened
Hollow Rd between Grandview and Long Hill Rd. - Closed
Pin Oak Rd. - Reopened
Spring Hill Rd.- Closed between Rt. 518 and Old Spring Hill Rd
Burnt Hill Rd. - between Skillman & Sunset - Reopened
Fairview Rd. - Southern end - Reopened
Grandview Rd - At Sourland Dr. - Reopened
Township Line Rd between Goldenrod Dr. and Willow Rd. - Closed
Princeton Avenue at the Rocky Hill Border - Reopened
Thank you for your patience as the township continues to address storm related damage in Montgomery; our public works crews are extremely busy. Potholes may be reported on the Pothole Hotline at 908-874-8947.
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From Dept. of Public Works
Additional Container Facility Day Open
for Flood Damaged Items
Saturday, March 20th
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
No charge to Montgomery Twp. residents with proper I.D. bringing flood damaged items.
The Container Facility is located in the Public Works Yard at 12 Harlingen Rd., 1/8 mi. east of Rt. 206 (intersection marked by Large White Harlingen Reform Church).
Those residents with non-flood damaged large items to discard should purchase coupons for regularly scheduled Container Facility Days (next is 4/20 8 a.m.-12) and can apply and learn normal guidelines at Container Facility webpage.
Fallen Tree Branch Curbside Pick-up
Beginning Monday, March 22nd and through the week, Public Works will chip trees & branches which are piled up at curb. There is no limit on the size of trees but they Must be hauled to curbside. However, please, No Stumps.
Residents are asked to pile trees & branches at the curb (not in the street) BEFORE MONDAY 22nd. Must be curbside, we cannot enter private property. Please do not block roadways. The chipper will drive around during the week; there will be only one round through each neighborhood. Don't miss it!
Videos of Twp Committee Meetings To Be Posted On-line
Meetings of the Montgomery Township Committee will be videotaped and posted on the Township website at www.montgomery.nj.us. Check the Elected Officials page, where contact info, upcoming meeting agendas and meeting minutes may also be found.
Residents Will Soon Be Able to Pay Taxes or Sewer Bills Online
Montgomery Township’s Administrator Donato Nieman and Chief Financial Officer Walter Sheppard are hoping that Township residents will have the option of paying tax or sewer bills online by the end of the year. Bank of America - the Township’s bank - recently approved an agreement that would allow online payments through an automated clearing house electronic check paying process. The next step is to work with software company Cit-E-Net, who will implement their existing software system after customizing it to meet the Township’s needs.
Nieman and Sheppard note that a surcharge, or convenience fee, would have to be paid by taxpayers if they pay via credit card. The Township, unlike commercial businesses, would not be able to absorb such charges. However, wire transfers from checking account debit cards could be made with no fee.
Township Committee Takes 10% Pay Cut
The Montgomery Township Committee decided to cut their salaries by 10% earlier this year, but due to an oversight this change was not included in the Township’s salary ordinance for 2009. Mayor Louise Wilson explains, “The pay cut was a decision made by the Township Committee early in the course of the budget process as we were implementing layoffs, pay freezes and other severe cost-cutting measures. Because of a miscommunication, for which I take responsibility, the pay cut had not been reflected in the salary and wage ordinance we originally adopted.” However, the ordinance was recently amended and the cut became effective October 15.
Cuts for the 2009 municipal budget included laying off four part-time employees, reducing hours for four construction code workers and one GIS/CAD worker, and freezing salaries for all nonunion employees except Kid Connection teachers. These cuts were made due to the economic climate and 4% budget caps that the State of New Jersey imposed on municipalities starting in 2007, according to Montgomery Township Administrator Donato Nieman. Annual salaries for Township Committee Members had been $5,006 for Mayor and $3,752 for other Township Committee Members.
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