FEBRUARY 2024 FREE
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No municipal tax increase proposed in 2024 budget EDITED BY BILL SANSERVINO
Lawrence High School swimmer Alex Murphy, pictured above, practices mental affirmation with other members of the team before competitions.
Murphy a leader in and out of how far would youpool go if theyfor LHS swimming the were sick? “Her trademark on the team is the swimmers and coaches. leading affirmations in the locker The lights are then turned off, For Alex Murphy, getting room before a meet,” coach and Murphy will play a game ready for a swim meet is more Hillary Hargraves-Dix said. “It of “repeat after me.” She prothan just training in the pool. started out as something kind of nounces “I am brave!” and the There is also the mental side of silly. Now it’s like a routine, it’s group responds with the same it, and she has developed a way just a sort of sweet, unique tra- proclamation. That is followed to sharpen the mental outlook of dition she started before every by “I am beautiful,” then “I am Capital Health. bothWelcome herself and theto Lawrence home meet.” strong,” and finally “I say someSee MURPHY, Page 8 High girls’ swim team. It starts with a talk amongst When someone you care about is sick, you’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they get the best care. And so do we.
BY RICH FISHER
Lawrence Township administration has proposed a municipal budget for 2024 with no municipal tax increase. The following is the full text of the budget message included with the proposed 2024 municipal budget. Municipal Manager Kevin Nerwinski wrote the message and read the entirety of it into the record during the council meeting on Jan. 16. Over the next few months, township council will review the budget, make changes, and ultimately present the package for approval following a public hearing. The Lawrence Gazette requested the full text of the message, which is presented with minor edits below. Note: Figures in [ ] represent 2023 amounts. *** As we enter into 2024, the same financial conditions and challenges exist as they did when I prepared the 2023 budget message. However, in this budget, we propose no increase to personnel, and we find ourselves well
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positioned to offset our inescapable increases to appropriations with (primarily) new ratables, the full balance of the cannabis tax, and a conservative approach to provide for meeting the needs of the community and supporting the municipal employees that provide them. As a result of these factors, this year’s budget provides for no increase in our municipal tax. The total Municipal Budget is $58,129 million [$61.763 million]. What we consistently strive to do, we have done in this recommended budget: (1) Maintain our fiscal strength; (2) Continue to actively and strategically improve our infrastructure; (3) Maintain and improve the services we provide to the community; (4) Grow our Surplus Fund (aka, “Fund Balance”); and (5) Reduce our municipal debt. The recommended municipal tax rate for 2024 represents a zero-cent increase from last year and is .652 [.652] 1 cent = See BUDGET, Page 4
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