The Villadom Times Weekly Newspaper Online-Jun 16, 2010 Issue

Ramsey June 16, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 The Ramsey Council has introduced its municipal-purpose budget for 2010, but has yet to adopt the $21,773,522 spending plan, as the borough is awaiting review from the State of New Jersey. A municipal official said the budget could be adopted by the council at the June 23 public meeting, which will begin at 8:30 p.m. at Ramsey Borough Hall. According to the budget newsletter, the tax rate associated with the current budget will increase from 0.539 to 0.558. This increase would translate to an annual Council may adopt budget at June 23 meeting increase of approximately $81 per year for the owner of a Ramsey home assessed at the borough’s average of $428,000. This increase does not include taxes paid to cover school district and Bergen County expenses. The newsletter states that the overall tax bill paid by a borough resident is apportioned as follows: 22 percent for municipal taxes, 11 percent for county expenses, and 67 percent for the public schools. This year, state aid to Ramsey decreased by 23 percent, or $451,000, which shifts the financial burden to borough taxpayers, according to the newsletter. The borough budget would raise $15,798,080 by taxation in support of the 2010 budget. Last year, the amount raised by taxation to help fund the municipal-purpose budget was $15,196,959. The document also notes that the decrease in state aid has been accompanied by increases in state mandated expenses, including pension costs. “This budget reduces spending in a number of discretionary areas to offset these mandated increases and contractual obligations,” the newsletter states. “In fact the total expenses in this budget prior to the reserve the borough keeps for uncollected taxes, is down about $4,000 from 2009 or basically flat despite those aforementioned increases. Unfortunately, moving forward, the shortfalls in the state budget as well as the state pension system will not go away anytime soon. Ramsey and other towns will continue to face a growing share of the expense to cover these shortfalls.” Celebrating 1 A Variety of 8” Annuals many to choose from Large Selection of Flats 4½” pw pots still available Years – 1910-2010 Allen A. Ghorashi, DDS 545 Island Road, Suite #1A Ramsey, New Jersey 07446 201-818-6565 24 Impatiens Plants $ Secor Farms 85 Airmont Ave • Mahwah, NJ 07430 Hanging Baskets 795 12” $ 201-529-2595 secorfarms.com With this coupon Exp.6-22-10 12 Preventive, Restorative and Implant Dentistry for Children and Adults. All Phases of Dentistry including Porcelain Crowns and tooth colored restorations. Financing and payment options available. Visit our website at ramseysmile.com for more information and make an appointment to explore the opportunities to improve your smile. 4 �� 6-16-10 joan/janine SecorFarms3x3(6-16-10)vt4 3 x 3” �� 201-934-7755 119 Interstate Shopping Center, Ramsey, New Jersey Intersection of Route 17 & Franklin Turnpike ADVANCED HEARING SERVICES, INC. Thomas J. Higgins, BC-HIS*, ACA** www.HearNJ.com or the past year, there has been a new church in the Mahwah community. Many people have had contact through ice cream giveaways, God in the Bar, and fooddrives for the Center for Food Action. The Plant’s hope as a church is to reach into the 6-16-10 joan/janine of creating an environment where faith is explored. This summer community with the goal is no different. ValleyDental3x3(6-16-10) Q: What have been the reasons The Plant 3 has3” community service? x done A: From what about the life of rev2 Jesus alwayswe believeserve people. He Christ, chose to loved people and showed his love by caring for their needs. As a church, we have made a conscious decision to participate in helping others in their times of crisis and to be a source of encouragement through acts of service. In essence, we’re doing what we believe Jesus would do if he lived on earth today. Q: Does having conversations about faith in a bar seem against what a church would do or be about? A: Our goal is to create an environment where faith questions can be discussed without feeling judged for one’s beliefs. God in the Bar allowed for people to have a setting where topics of Christianity could be discussed with one another. We Rev. Rob Parker, Lead Pastor learned that people have questions about faith. The church has to provide a venue where these issues can be talked about. Q: This summer The Plant is hosting a VBS (Vacation Bible School), but it’s not just for kids. What will your weekly VBS experience involve? A: Many people think of VBS as a weeklong program for kids. Our goal is to have a 5week program where every Sunday, from July 11-August 8, children and adults experience faith-based lessons and activities that will help reveal evidences of God in their everyday lives. Q: Why would you encourage a family to come to VBS? A: One of the biggest dilemmas families in this area struggle with is overcrowding. For most people, faith is the last priority on their to-do list. Because of this, there is a disconnection within the home on spiritual beliefs. Our 5-week program is an opportunity for the whole family to begin a journey of faith together. F Splash into Summer Supervising Licence. NJ Hearing Aid Dispenser * Licence # 743 Member International Hearing Society *Board Certiﬁed by the National Board for Certiﬁcation in Hearing Instrument Sciences. **American Conference of Audioprosthology (For more information about The Plant and their summer program go to: www.theplantchurch.org)