Community Corner

Fair Haven Reluctantly Adopts Budget With Tax Increase, Ending 6-Year Streak

Find out how it will affect your property tax bill.

The Fair Haven Borough Council has unanimously adopted an $8.3 million spending plan that raises the municipal tax levy. 

The amount to be raised through taxation is $5.9 million, up $400,000 from the year before. 

The original budget was introduced in April, but after review from the state the borough was required to pass an amendment to budget for local services agreements. The budget was adopted on June 30, after a six-year streak of holding the line on tax increases. 

The new 2014 tax rate for municipal purposes in Fair Haven has actually decreased 5.4 cents per $100 of assessed valuation from last year, from 45.7 cents to 40.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. 

But because of the recent revaluation of borough properties, the typical home in Fair Haven is now assessed at a higher level than last year, which can trigger a higher municipal tax bill. 

Borough Administrator Theresa Casagrande offered this example:

  • 2013 Average Assessed Value (Residential) is $553,581.00 – The “average home”  paid $2,530.64 in municipal taxes.
  • 2014 Average Assessed Value (Residential) is $688,540.00  - This “average home” will pay $ 2,776.70 in municipal taxes.

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At the June 30 meeting, council members commented on feeling both burdened from the state but also the need for tax increase for services.

"The governing body determined that they wanted to maintain the present level of services for the borough's residents and in order to do so, they voted for a slight tax increase, for the first time in [six] years," Borough Administrator Theresa Casagrande said.


The municipal tax rate represents only 20.5% of the total property tax bill for Fair Haven residents. At the local level, these taxes cover the cost of all municipal services provided to residents, which includes but are not limited to: police, public works, roads, capital improvements, parks, recreation, snow removal, and trash collection.

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