Glen Rock Municipal Taxes to Rise Average of $174

Taxes for the average Glen Rock homeowner will rise $174 with the borough council officially passing its 2013 municipal budget last week.

The Glen Rock Borough Council on March 27 introduced the $17,340,059 budget with a finance plan officials said was designed to mitigate future financial issues.

Combined with county taxes, it represents a $174 tax hike for residents with an average assessed home value of $550,000. Altogether, the municipal tax bill averages about $3,000 for the average resident.

Among the biggest reasons for the tax increase, according to officials, was a 13 percent increase in the reserve for uncollected taxes, a $924,000 item.

Major increases in the 2013 budget are found in police salaries and pension payments, employee health insurance and a reserve set aside to defend against tax appeals.

The Glen Rock school board passed a budget that will decrease the average resident's tax bill by $29, the second straight year of a zero percent tax increase.