Mahwah July 28, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 7 Bergen County sets township’s 2010 tax rate by Frank J. McMahon The Township of Mahwah’s total 2010 tax rate has been set by the county at $2.124, which is an increase of 6.1 cents over the 2009 tax rate of $2.063. This total tax rate of $2.124 is comprised of a Bergen County tax rate of 31.8 cents, an increase of six tenths of a cent; the Bergen County Open Space tax rate of five tenths of a cent, a decrease of 1.3 cents; the township school district’s tax rate of $1.298, an increase of 4.6 cents; and a municipal tax rate of 49.3 cents, an increase of 2.2 cents. The 6.1 cent property tax increase will raise the property tax on a home in the township with the average assessed value of $358,230 by $219 per year. The Mahwah Township Council reduced its 2010 municipal budget by $242,000 before it was adopted in May. That change that resulted in a municipal tax rate of 49.4 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, but the county rounded that municipal rate down to 49.3 cents, which by itself will raise the tax on a home with the average assessed value by $79. Those cost reductions resulted from lower Bergen County disposal tipping fees and a lower actual cost for supplying municipal services such as snow plowing to the township’s condominium associations plus a lower required contribution to the township’s volunteer fireman’s length of service award program; reduced 2010 municipality election costs; and a $40,000 Clean Communities grant. The 4.6 cent increase in the school tax rate will increase the property tax on the home with the average assessed value by $165. After the school district’s budget was defeated at the polls in April, the council cut $250,000 from the school budget. That budget reduction was expected to reduce the 4.7 cent school tax rate increase that would have resulted from the $52.2 million tax levy required by the original $58.2 million total school district budget for 2010-11 to 4.1 cents. But the actual tax rate increase for the school district was calculated by the county to be 4.6 cents. The 2010 township budget that was adopted on May 27 showed revenues and appropriations at $34,756,129, up by $154,953 from $34,601,176 in 2009. The operating expense line in the 2010 budget is $16,350 less than in 2009, and the “other expenses” line item is $159,229 less than in 2009, while the “deferred charges and other appropriations” line is $66,977 less than in 2009. But other appropriations increased, such as capital improvements, which rose by $50,000, while debt service rose by $17,225, and the reserve for uncollected taxes rose by $330,285. The 2010 budget used $125,000 less in surplus and there was $873,294 less in miscellaneous revenues while receipts from delinquent taxes rose by $28,039 and the local tax for municipal purposes rose by $1,125,207. The budget also includes the contracted 2010 salary increase percentages for all three township unions whose contracts expire at the end of this year. Members of the local police union will receive a four percent raise, white collar employees will receive a 3.5 percent salary increase, and blue collar employees will receive a two percent increase. Out of this world! Vincent works with commanders from Buehler Space Center in Paramus during a field trip with Pinnacle Learning Center. $ummer $izzler $ale! Summer Sizzler Coupons $ $ SN/TJ 10+ 3.50 10+ $ .50 4 Colored Cedar Mulch Summer Sizzler Coupons 3 Imported Natural Cedar Mulch Summer Sizzler Coupons Bulk Top Soil Special Price .69 Reg. $4.49 3 Cu. Ft. Exp. 7/31 5-9 Yds...........$32.00 Per Yd. 10+ Yds..........$30.00 Per Yd. SN/TJ Free Delivery In North Jersey Exp. 7/31 SN/TJ 30 Summer Sizzler Coupons Perennials Regular Prices 1-2-3 Gallon % OFF BUD & BLOOM TREMENDOUS SELECTION Exp. 7/31 Summer Sizzler Coupons $ $ Red, Brown, Black Reg. $5.69 SN/TJ 4 .69 10+ 5.75 Hemlock Mulch 3 Cu. Ft. Exp. 7/31 $ SN/TJ 6 .00 Reg. 6.99 $ 3 Cu. Ft. Exp. 7/31 Bulk Dyed Hardwood Mulch Black, Brown, Red 5-9 Yds...........$31.50 Per Yd. 10+ Yds..........$30.00 Per Yd. SN/TJ Summer Sizzler Coupons Free Delivery In North Jersey Exp. 7/31 Cash • Check Visa • Mastercard 800 Wyckoff Ave. Mahwah, NJ • Call (201) 847-8999 Delivery, Planting & Gift Certificates Available! HOURS: Mon.-Sun. 8am-6pm Sun. 9am-5pm