No Tax Increase Planned for Collier

Collier Township officials are expected to pass the municipality’s 2012 budget later this month without raising property taxes.

The anticipated $8.66 million operating budget will keep property taxes for township residents at 3.5 mills. The commissioners are expected to vote on the budget proposal at their Dec. 14 meeting.

The township’s budget is noticeably higher this year because of a record-keeping change that rolls the $2.26 million capital reserve fund, which serves a rainy day account, into the overall plan for the first time. The highest expenses in the budget are for police protection, public works and park improvements.

The township plans to spend about $1.56 million on , which is a $220,000 increase over 2011. The larger budget is attributed to more officers, increased training and the purchase of a new patrol car.

Collier will also spend about $1.91 million on the public works department, which includes $215,000 budgeted for salt and snow removal. An additional $490,000 will be spent on recycling and garbage pickup, which is nearly a 17 percent increase over last year’s budget.

One of the other biggest items in the total budget will be Phase 1 construction of . The township expects to spend $1.77 on all of the parks, a majority of which will go to the start-up work to transform the former military base.

The entire 2012 budget proposal can be found at the , or by clicking on this link that directs you to the township's website.

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