Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • August 1, 2012 Franklin Lakes Bergen County sets borough’s 2012 tax rate by Frank J. McMahon The 2012 tax rate for the Borough of Franklin Lakes has been finalized by the Bergen County Board of Taxation and the borough’s property tax bills will be based on that new rate. The Aug. 1 tax bills were expected to be mailed out before the end of July. The grace period for the property tax payment that was due Aug. 1 will be extended, according to Philip Moore, the borough’s tax collector, who advised that the actual extension date will be indicated on the bill, or on an attachment with the bill. The borough’s total tax rate for 2012 is now $1.533 per $100 of assessed valuation, or three tenths of a cent higher than the 2011 total tax rate. That total tax rate is comprised of a Bergen County tax rate of 23.7 cents, which represents an increase of two cents over the 2011 tax rate; the Bergen County open space tax rate of three tenths of a cent which is the same as last year; the borough’s school district’s tax rate of 60.2 cents, which represents a decrease of 1.8 cents; the regional school tax rate of 42.7 cents, which represents a decrease of three tenths of a cent; the library tax of 3.6 cents, which represents a decrease of one tenth of a cent; and the municipal tax rate of 22.8 cents, which represents an increase of six tenths of a cent. The new total tax rate of $1.533 will result in a $15,825 property tax for the homeowner whose property has the borough’s average assessed value of $1,032,343. Property taxes are determined by multiplying a property’s assessed value in hundreds of dollars by the tax rate. Each homeowner must determine his or her individual total tax by multiplying the new $1.533 total tax rate by the actual assessed value of his or her property in hundreds of dollars. To determine if that is an increase or a decrease, the homeowner must compare that tax obligation with the tax under the borough’s previous total tax rate of $1.53 and the property’s previous assessed value in hundreds of dollars. The Franklin Lakes Council adopted the 2012 municipal budget at a public meeting in March. The $16,465,162 budget resulted in a 1.93 percent increase in the municipal taxes to be raised in 2012, which is below the two percent tax levy cap imposed by state law. The general appropriations in the budget increased $702,782, or 4.45 percent, from $15,762,380 to $16,465,162. That increase in appropriations includes a decrease in salaries of $5,523, an increase of $146,420 in other expenses, an increase of $360,785 in deferred charges, $165,000 in capital improvements, and an increase of $36,100 in debt service. The appropriations for the reserve for uncollected taxes remained the same at $1,035,000. The anticipated revenue in the budget, including a $205,000 increase in the local tax for municipal purposes, increased by $702,782, which includes a $240,000 increase in the use of the surplus, a $247,782 increase in miscellaneous revenues, and a $10,000 increase in receipts for delinquent taxes. During the budget presentation, Franklin Lakes Borough Administrator Gregory Hart pointed out that, while the borough is responsible for collecting the property taxes from all sources, the municipal portion of a property owner’s total tax bill amounts to 16.9 percent, while the local school portion is 40.5 percent, the regional school portion is 28.2 percent, and the county portion is 14.9 percent. Hart also compared the borough’s tax rate to the tax rates of other Bergen County municipalities and emphasized that the borough’s tax rate is the second lowest in the county behind Alpine. Franklin Lakes Scribe Register for preschool program Barnert Temple Preschool and Family Center is accepting applications for “Me & My Sprout Shabbat” class, a Shabbat social experience for toddlers and their parents, grandparents, or caregivers. This class, available to all children ages 12 months through 24 months, meets on Fridays from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Classes will begin Sept. 14 and run through May 2013. The cost is $650 for the year. New families not currently enrolled in Barnert Temple Preschool will receive a $100 discount. For an application, or more information, contact Alice Berdy at (201) 848-1027 or schooloffice@barnerttempl e.org. Information about the temple is available at www. barnerttemple.org and on Facebook. Paws for Reading returns Franklin Lakes Public Library invites students in grades one through five to participate in PAWS for Reading on Mondays, Aug. 6 and 20. Beginning and accomplished readers can make friends with well-behaved therapy dogs while polishing their reading and public speaking skills. Register for a 10-minute period beginning at 3 p.m. by calling (201) 891-2224 or by visiting the library at 470 DeKorte Drive during regular hours. Vendors sought for holiday boutique The Franklin Lakes Branch of the Valley Hospital Auxiliary is seeking vendors for its Fifth Annual Pre-holiday Brunch & Boutique Shopping Extravaganza set for Nov. 14. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Indian Trail Club, 830 Franklin Lake Road in Franklin Lakes. This brunch and boutique, which in the past has been attended by nearly 200 people, will help support the auxiliary’s $1.5 million pledge for expansion of The Valley Hospital Breast Surgery Program at the Luckow Pavilion, which will include a dedicated mammography suite and ultrasound suite; and to support Valley Home Care’s Butterflies Program, a palliative care and hospice program for children. For more information, call Dorothy at (201) 3371686 by Oct. 12. ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ to be performed The Next Stage Ensemble of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will present “The Marriage of Figaro,” an adaptation of the play by Pierre Beaumarchais, on Wednesday, Aug. 1. The program will be held at 7 p.m. at the Franklin Lakes Public Library, 470 DeKorte Drive in Franklin Lakes. Tickets for this free program may be reserved at the adult reference desk. Call (201) 891-2224 for more information. Temple welcomes prospective members Temple Emmanuel of North Jersey invites prospective members to a picnic by the lake on Friday, Aug. 3. The 7:30 p.m. event will feature hot dogs, hamburgers, salad, chips, and watermelon as the setting sun illuminates the lake and forest overlooking the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet congregants and tour the facility. Following dinner, celebrate the Sabbath Kabbalat Shabbat service outdoors with the temple’s new spiritual leader, Rabbi Joseph Prouser, and his wife, Dr. Ora Horn Prouser. The picnic prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 13. To make a reservation, call the temple office at (201) 560-0200 by Aug. 2. Temple Emmanuel is located at 558 High Mountain Road in Franklin Lakes. Press releases for this column may be e-mailed to editorial@villadom.com. Deadline is Wednesday at noon.