Villadom Times Weekly Local Newspaper

Franklin Lakes May 26, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Council adopts budget without mayor’s support by Frank J. McMahon Last week, the Franklin Lakes Borough Council adopted its 2010 budget without the support of Mayor Maura DeNicola. Following a presentation of some of the details of the budget and some questions and comments by members of the public, all six council members voted to adopt the $15,510,778 budget, which represents a $624,000 increase above the 2009 budget and requires $10,418,446 in property taxes, which represents a $918,374, or 9.7 percent, increase in property taxes for borough residents. Although she does not have a vote on adopting the budget in the borough’s mayor and council form of government, Mayor DeNicola let it be known that she felt the budget and tax increases were too high and should be cut further. “The council knows how I feel. I cannot support the budget at this increase,” DeNicola said. “I strongly feel more cuts should be made so that the increase could be brought down further. Other towns are making cuts and not changing their quality of life.” During the presentation, Franklin Lakes Borough Administrator Gregory Hart pointed out the budget will raise the borough’s tax rate by 1.8 cents to 21 cents. As a result, the owner of a home with the borough’s average assessed value of $1,280,901 will pay an additional $231 per year. Hart explained that just 16.1 percent of the borough’s total property tax is the result of the borough’s budget, while 68.2 percent is the result of the local and regional school budgets, and 15.8 percent is the result of the Bergen County property tax. He emphasized that the borough’s tax rate will remain the second lowest in Bergen County behind Alpine, and would be about 14 percent below the Wyckoff tax rate. Hart also pointed out that the borough’s property tax levy increase is below the allowable state tax levy cap by $172,927. The municipal property tax increase must be added to the voter approved $269 increase in the local school taxes, the voter approved $173 increase in the regional high school taxes, and any increase that may be proposed in Bergen County taxes and the Bergen County Open Space Fund to determine the total increase in property taxes for 2010. The appropriations side of the municipal budget consists of $5.1 million in salaries and wages, $7.4 million in other expenses, $661,169 in deferred charges, $1.3 million in debt service, and $998,278 in a reserve to cover uncollected taxes. The appropriations side of the budget also includes non-discretionary items such as a state mandated contribution of $1.6 million to the municipal library; a health care insurance cost of $1.4 million, which represents an increase of $187,000; state mandated pension contributions of $900,000, which have been increased by $448,000; a garbage and recycling collection and disposal cost of $900,000; and $100,000 in additional snowplowing costs due to the recent winter storms. (continued on page 10) Serving ty n rgen Cours Be 5 Yea for 2 Additions • Renovations Kitchen, Bathroom & Basement Remodeling Windows • Doors • Siding • Rooﬁng Interior & Exterior Carpentry Licensed & Insured • Free Estimates Irish LLC Home Remodeling All work performed by owner Hillsdale, NJ • 201-965-5281 Now Open! 396 Franklin Ave Wyckoff, NJ 201-891-5500 Across from Aldo’s Restaurant Wyckoff Cycle LLC Does Your Child Want to Be a Designer? We can teach her the fundamentals of sewing to unleash her creativity. She can model the garments she’s made at our Annual Fashion Show in June. June We Repair ALL Bicycle Brands Bikes for the Whole Family and the Pros Register Now for Summer Sewing Camp June 28 - August 26 • 10am - 3pm Check our Website: www.needlecraftschool.org Teaching Children and Adults Sewing and Designing Skills for Over 30 Years... Needlecraft School 216 Godwin Ave, Midland Park 201-444-2976 presents... Presents 2ND ANNUAL SPRING GALA PERFORMANCE Saturday, June 5th, 1:00 PM & 7:00 PM At Berrie Center for the Arts, Ramapo College. 5-26-10 NeedlecraftSummerCamp(color)2x3(5-26-10) 2x3 Ester for PROOF... from Janine ��