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On the Princeton Agenda: One More Tax Increase? Expanded Food Waste Program? Better Transit Signage?
By Richard K. Rein,
2024-05-28
Credits: TAPinto Princeton Staff
Princeton, NJ – The last week of May and the week after Memorial Day – in any year -- is destined to be a very slow week in the municipal editor’s calendar. So it is this year, but for a fairly newsworthy Council meeting on Tuesday, May 28.
There’s some news about taxes, food waste recycling, and some better signage for the Muni Transit system, among other items on the agenda.
The tax news comes in the form of a public hearing for an ordinance that will increase the municipality’s sewer service charge. This is the tax that’s tied to your annual consumption of water – a tiny portion of the overall tax bill but still an incentive for some to pay attention to running toilets, leaking swimming pools, and other potential water-wasting habits.
A memo from Andrew Filippi, the sewer engineer, points out that Princeton has not increased the rates since 2022. For the smallest category of water consumers, the rate would increase from $7.10 to $8 for the first 2,000 CCF (hundred cubic feet). Filippi offered no estimate for a “typical home,” but if we estimate that an average house now pays about $120 a year in sewer taxes an increase of that proportion would mean an annual increase of about $14.
That’s a wild guess on our part, and it would normally be trivial for the owner of a house of average assessed value who is already paying more than $20,000 a year in property taxes.
But there are already at least three tax increases in the wings, with another in the future if the school referendum is approved, as TAPinto Princeton reported in early May. They are beginning to add up: A county tax increase of about $110 on that mythical home of average assessed value, the municipality's projected tax increase of $218, the school district's projected $237 increase, and now another $14 or so in increased sewer taxes brings us up to around $580 more per year in property taxes.
Not yet approved, but likely to go before the voters soon is a school referendum in the range of $85 million to $89.5 million -- to fund new classrooms and core spaces at Community Park Elementary, Littlebrook Elementary, Princeton Middle School, and Princeton High School. The estimated additional tax on the average assessed home would be around $551.70.
Food Waste Composting . Also on the agenda: Some good news for people who would like to add the food scraps to their personal sustainability program. Council will consider a resolution and agreement with the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to accept a grant in the amount of $245,590 for the expansion of the food scrap drop off program.
Under the existing program the town has two drop off sites – Monument Hall and Witherspoon Hall. Each site is outfitted with a wooden shed with 64-gallon recycling carts. The Public Works Department exchanges the carts weekly and transports the scraps to Trenton Renewable for recycling.
The grant would enable to town to increase the number of drop off sites to a maximum of 12 locations, to be located closer to neighborhoods and multi-family dwelling developments over the two-year term of the grant.
About that transit signage. The engineering department is requesting authorization to pursue a grant from the Mobility and Transportation Innovation Program. As assistant engineer Jim Purcell notes in his memo to Council, “the Princeton Muni Transit system operates six days a week for 12 ½ hours each day on a scheduled fixed route system. While the scheduling and routing are available on a mobile application, TripShot, many of our patrons do not have smart phones and rely on printed schedules. Changes in the schedule or delays due to traffic congestion or other issues are not available to them in real time, creating frustration and lack of trust in the system’s reliability.
“Real-time digital displays at bus stops have proven to be reliable and effective means of communication, providing passengers notice as to when to expect the arrival of the next bus or if there are any delays, allowing them to use their time shopping or in other activities instead of waiting at the stop. They have been demonstrated to increase ridership, as well.
“Engineering is proposing to install the same real-time displays used by Princeton University. The Muni Transit route on TripShot is already integrated with Tiger Transit, and the real-time displays can similarly be integrated. This will provide passengers not only with information related to the municipal bus, but also the university system.
“We are proposing installation of 10 displays at outdoor bus stop locations. Each solar-powered display is estimated to cost approximately $9,000 for the equipment and installation. We would also enter into a contract for hosting and maintenance at approximately $15,000 per year. We will seek a grant for the entire cost of installation and one-year of hosting and maintenance in the total amount of $105,000.
Below are details of upcoming events on the municipal calendar. Zoom links to meetings are included when available as of Monday, May 27. Check the municipal calendar for more recent information regarding access via Zoom.
Tuesday, May 28
Trash collection normally done on Monday will take place this week on Tuesday.
7 p.m. Princeton Council, in person at 400 Witherspoon Street, and via Zoom .
8 to 9:30 a.m.: Princeton Public Schools Board of Education Operations Committee, via Zoom.
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens, LilliPies Bakery, Princeton Shopping Center, 301 North Harrison Street. Informal meet-up with Princeton Council member Leighton Newlin.
3:45 p.m.: Princeton Public Schools Policy Committee Meeting, via Zoom.
Friday, May 31
Noon: Pride Month - Flag Raising Ceremony, annual Pride flag raising at Monument Hall.
4:30 p.m.: Pride Picnic, Hinds Plaza, inside the Princeton Public Library in case of rain.
7:30 p.m.: Pride Dance Party, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street.
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