Villadom Times Weekly Local Newspaper

March 24, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 5 Mahwah Municipal purpose budget to be introduced soon by Frank J. McMahon Mahwah’s municipal purpose budget for 2010 is expected to be introduced by March 31and be adopted by the end of April, but there are concerns about the amount of state aid the township will receive and that figure depends on the state budget Governor Chris Christie introduced last week. Mahwah Township Business Administrator Brian Campion recently told the council the draft budget he and Mayor Richard Martel have prepared meets the state’s spending cap and the four percent tax levy cap, but that budget could be negatively impacted if state aid decreases. Campion explained that $5.5 million of the township’s $34 million budget comes from state aid and two thirds of it comes from real estate taxes. “If the level of state aid remains the same, our budget is satisfactory,” Campion said. “If (aid) is reduced, we’re going to have to make some changes.” He added, “Last year, our state aid was cut by $300,000, and the mayor and I are looking at alternate scenarios if there is another cut in state aid. One scenario would be to cut spending, another would be to increase taxes, and a third would be to use more of the township’s surplus funds.” Campion said he is not comfortable with the idea of using more of the township’s surplus. The township’s budget covers the cost of maintaining the township’s roads, the collection of garbage and recyclables, police protection, salaries and benefits for township department employees, the department of public works, the board of health, the bureau of fire prevention, the ambulance corps, senior citizen activities, the municipal pool, the municipal court, and a contribution toward the operation of the library. The 2009 township budget included no reductions in staff, although six positions that were open as the result of retirements or resignations were not filled. The budget also provided for 3.5 percent salary increases for white and blue collar employees as called for in their contracts, and a four percent increase in police salaries as required by the township’s contract with the Policemen’s Benevolent Association. The 2009 budget totaled $34,495,634, an increase of $330,008 over the township’s 2008 final budget. The tax levy that was required to fund that budget was $19,560,249, an increase of $1,055,242. As a result, the township’s municipal tax rate increased by two cents and the municipal portion of the township’s property tax on a home with the township’s average assessed value of $358,417 increased by $72 per year. The township’s tax rate last year increased to $2.06, which represented an 8.7 cent, or 4.4 percent, increase in the township’s total property tax rate over the previous year’s tax rate of $1.98. That 8.7 cent increase was the result of a 2.5 cent increase in the Bergen County tax rate to 0.312 cents, a 4.1 cent increase in the local school district tax rate to $1.25, and a two cent increase in the municipal tax rate to 47.1 cents, plus a tenth of a cent increase in the Bergen County Open Space tax rate to 1.8 cents. That total tax rate resulted in an annual property tax of $7,394 for a residential taxpayer whose property had the township’s average assessed value, and that represented an increase of $312, or $26 a month in that property owner’s annual property taxes. �� KIDDIE SOCCER Non-Competitive, Spring Sessions Ages 3½-6 Fun Instructional Soccer Sessions �� begin April 12th Space is limited Register early Oakland • Recreation Complex • Mondays 1:30 Allendale • Guardian Angel Church Field • Tuesdays 10 & 1:30 Visit our website or call us for a complete schedule 973-543-1197 www.kiddiescoccer.com �� 3-10-10 joan/janine FriedbergProperties2x(3-10-10) 2 x 3”