Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • April 28, 2010 Mahwah Township introduces 2010 municipal purpose budget by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Township Council recently introduced its 2010 budget, which contains total proposed appropriations of $32,285,527. The amount to be raised by taxation has increased by $1,125,207, or 5.8 percent, over last year’s budget. If this budget is adopted in its present form, the township’s tax rate is expected to rise to 49.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, while the school district tax rate could rise to $1.30, the Bergen County tax rate could rise to 34.1 cents based on current projections, and the municipal open space tax rate will remain at one cent. That would result in a $2.15 tax rate for the township, which would result in a $7,701 annual property tax for a home with the average assessed value of $358,230. Homes with a higher assessed value would pay more than the average, and those with a lower assessed value would pay less than the average. The township’s final tax rate will not be known until June or July when the Bergen County Board of Taxation tallies up all the tax rates that make up the township’s total tax rate and strikes the official tax rate for the township. Mahwah Township Administrator Brian Campion advised that the major items that negatively impacted this year’s budget are the $631,000 reduction in state aid, a $225,000 reduction on interest on investments and deposits, a $100,000 decrease in the anticipated donation from the township’s library, a $175,000 decrease in the hotel tax receipts, a $111,000 increase in the township’s payment toward pension plans, a $260,000 increase in overall insurance costs, and a $330,000 increase in the reserve for uncollected taxes. Mahwah’s state mandated contribution to the library decreased by $82,000 due to a lower equalized assessed value of the township upon which that contribution is based. According to Campion, this budget involves 14 reductions in staff through attrition. Those staff reductions are spread out over all departments. After the budget introduction, Mayor Richard Martel said, “When the budget process began last September, my goal was to come up with as lean a budget as possible without affecting employee jobs or affecting the services that the township provides to its residents.” He said he feels he accomplished that goal, but he added that the budget in 2011 would also be challenging because all three employee contracts, white collar, blue collar, and police employees, will expire next year and will have to be renegotiated. for Mahwah Town Council “STOP WASTEFUL SPENDING, KEEP TAXES LOW” Do You Know where your tax dollars go? The Town Council position, which is part time offers: • A $7000.00 to $8000.00 Stipend. • A Pension. • Some Council Members Take FULL BENEFITS. DANIEL WEIXELDORFER The Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce’s next luncheon will be held at 2 p.m. on May 4. Apolo’s Restaurant, 61 East Main Street, Ramsey, will host this event. Chamber members and non-members are invited. Members may also pick up or drop off promotional materials and literature for the event’s informational table. The cost is $35 for Chamber members and $50 for nonmembers. Pre-paid registration is required; an additional $5 processing fee will be charged if paid the day of event. For reservations and other information, visit www.mahwah. com or call (201) 529-5566. Chamber plans luncheon MAHWAH TAXPAYERS! Serving ty oun Bergen C ears r 25 Y fo 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 These include Medical, Dental & Vision at a cost of approximately $14,500.00 per year for a single person and approximately $20,000.00 for a family plan. Since the township is self insured, it could possibly cost the taxpayer up to $60,000.00 per person and or family member per year. In these tough economic times, why are the taxpayers paying full benefits for a part time job? When elected to town council, I pledge NOT to take benefits. Furthermore, when elected, I will ask the council to vote on eliminating health benefits to council members. The Black & Decker Electric Mower Starts With The Flick Of A Switch Easy to Operate 18” Mulching Mower With Flip-Over Handle It Never Runs Out of Gas And Doesn’t Pollute! Other Models To Choose From Paid for by friends of Daniel Weixeldorfer Vote 1 May 1 www.vote4daniel.com Propane Available 7 Days A Week Mon-Wed 7:30-6, Thurs & Fri 7:30-8 Sat 8-5 27 FRANKLIN TPKE, WALDWICK www.homehardwaresupply.com 201-652-5666 OPEN SUNDAY 9-3 4-28-10 joan/janine DanWeixeldorfer4x9NoBio(4-28-10)