An estimate of homeowners’ third quarter property tax bills will be mailed out soon, following agreement by the town council. The tax bills will reflect the closest approximation the township has arrived at so far to meet its future spending needs. The council has, so far, stuck to its plan to limit the increase in property taxes to $100 on an average property value of $130,000. This represents a 2.13 percent or $618,000 increase from the 2005 budget. The largest increases in the budget arise from costs of providing salary and benefits to town employees, including pension payments ($271,000), health insurance payments ($205,000) and wage increases ($180,000). One significant saving the town has made this year, though, was from eliminating the commercial garbage contact, which at the end of last year had risen to almost $300,000. The final version of the budget will likely go under several amendments, most of them likely to be relatively minor, before being adopted. The biggest holdup to the town passing its budget is the state finding a satisfactory conclusion to its financial proposals. Governor Jon Corzine is locked in a process with Trenton legislators to pass his $30.9 billion budget which has the primary aim of reducing New Jersey’s debts, which are estimated to reach $30 billion next year. By mandate the state is supposed to produce its final budget by the end of June. Chuck Ferraioli, the township’s auditor, said at the council meeting on Wednesday night, however, “On June 3 at 11:59 p.m. they will probably turn the clocks off in Trenton. It may take a couple of extra weeks for them to adopt the state budget.” The next budget meeting will be held next Monday evening, June 19, at 7:30 p.m. at town hall.