Wyckoff March 23, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 Municipal-purpose budget includes $65 tax increase by John Koster Wyckoff’s municipal budget includes an increase of $65 per year for a home assessed at the township average of $810,600. The increase translates to $5.44 per month, or an annual total tax payment of $1,951 for administration, police and road services, and equipment for the volunteer fire and ambulance services. The $17,071,808 budget, which was introduced at a special meeting on March 11, sustained 90 percent of its increases due to mandated and uncontrolled expenses. The total uncontrolled expenses of $349,024 included $61,687 for mandated public employee pension system increases, $63,407 for mandated police pension increases, $99,480 in employee health care, and $124,450 in contractual police salary increases. The total budget increase was less than one cent for every $100 of assessed valuation. Decreases in revenue were caused by a total cut in state aid of $373,363, $12,000 less in revenue on deposits, $10,000 less in interest on deposits, and $400,000 less in surplus due to general economic conditions. Due to the cuts, Wyckoff did not fill two staff positions left vacant by previous resignations, continuing a five-year pattern in which five full-time staffers and a part-timer were not replaced. The Bergen County Joint Insurance Fund, a third-party independent agency, stated in 2009 that Wyckoff has the lowest number of employees per capita of any of Bergen County’s 70 communities. The five members of the Wyckoff Township Committee voluntarily waived their stipends for the third year in a row, saving about $20,000. The budget was helped by $307,000 of returned excess library funds and a $30,000 payment for a new co-locator on a township monopole. Murphy receives Dana Hannon Award Wyckoff’s former fire chief, David Murphy, recently received the Dana Hannon Distinguished Service Award. “Dave joined the department as a young man following in his father’s footsteps,” Chief Mike Rose said. “He was often found with his dad at the firehouse checking on the trucks, cleaning equipment, or at family functions. He joined the Wyckoff Fire Department promptly at age 18 as soon as the ink was dry on his high school diploma, not wanting to miss out on any of the action. Dave was quickly recognized for his aggressive firefighting tactics, his willingness to learn, and his leadership abilities. Later he decided to join the ranks of firematic officer and rose through the ranks in his company, finally serving as department chief. “Simultaneously while serving as a firefighter Dave decided that he wanted to take a more active role in helping his community and he was hired as a Wyckoff police officer. Dave also serves as the township’s emergency management coordinator and is currently a lieutenant in the police department.” Murphy was the youngest man to be named Wyckoff’s fire chief and remains an active volunteer firefighter. Dana Hannon, the namesake of the award, was a Dave Murphy (right) receives the Dana Hannon Award from Chief Mike Rose. Wyckoff volunteer firefighter and a professional firefighter in New York City. He was killed during the first phase of the rescue attempt during the attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. J. KOSTER ����� ��� ��� ���� �� ��� ����� � ������������� �������� �� ��� ���������� ���������� �������������� ��� ���������� �� ������ ������� ��������� 3-23-11 kathy/janine ������ ������������ ���������� ��� ���������� PJsPromo2x3BW(-23-11) 2 x 3” ��� ������� �� �� ������ ���� ��������� ������������ ������ ��������� ��������������� ������ ��������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������ �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������