Ridgewood June 6, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 3 Village introduces $45 million municipal budget by John Koster Last week, the Ridgewood Council introduced a $45,236,596 municipal-purpose budget for the village. The spending plan as introduced will add $131 to the annual taxes on the average Ridgewood house, which is assessed at $794,550. Ridgewood Village Manager Ken Gabbert pointed out that this budget only includes expenses for municipal services such as police, fire department, roads, parks, and administration. He said the figures for the full property tax increase, including taxes to support Bergen County expenses and the public schools, would be available after the schools learned whether they would receive an additional $100,000 in state aid. The appropriations within the cap total $34,916,186, and the appropriations excluded from the cap are $8,696,123. The reserve for uncollected taxes is $1,624,288. Anticipated revenues other than property taxes are expected to total $12,159,495, leaving $33,077,101 to be covered by local property taxes. Officials said the $131 average municipal tax increase includes $46 related to emergency measures, notably the snowstorm that cut off electrical power to a number of Ridgewood homes in late October and early November. Gabbert noted that a $502,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency enabled Ridgewood to keep the increase at what most council members seemed to feel was a reasonable level, despite the extra cost of storm damage to Ridgewood last year. Other grants defrayed the salaries of three new firefighters and stream clearance for the flood-prone HoHo-Kus Brook. The budget, which may be discussed at the council’s June 13 public meeting at 8 p.m., is expected to have its adoption hearing on June 26 at 7 p.m. “There’s some leeway we have in terms of what line items have to be,” Gabbert said. Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh voted “no” on the introduction, without a statement at that time. Afterward, she said, “I want further time to analyze it.” She also said Ridgewood could possibly come up $1 million short on expected funds, but declined to elaborate. The budget was introduced on fairly short notice after the Ridgewood Village Council decided to introduce and adopt the budget before the council reorganizes. Mayor Keith Killion narrowly lost the May Highlights in Leisure Time will meet at noon on June 7 for a members-only patio lunch at Graydon Pool. Members may purchase a season badge for the pool for $20, the special price for seniors at this event. On June 21, HILT will attend a performance of “Once on this Island” at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Lunch will be at the Carriage House on the theater grounds. The bus will leave from the Graydon Pool parking lot at 10:30 a.m. The cost is $53 for HILT HILT announces June events election to Gween Hauck, and Councilman Stephen Wellinghorst decided some months before not to seek re-election. The only other business at the special meeting was the introduction of an ordinance to establish a cap bank to make it possible to pay the budget. Deputy Mayor Thomas Riche expressed a hope, as an aside, that the State of New Jersey would eventually enact legislation so long-term employees did not have to be paid lump sums to cover sick days they did not claim during their employment. The need to keep money aside for these lump sum payments, he said, is disruptive to sound budgeting processes. members and $58 for non-members. Ridgewood residents, age 55 and up, are invited to join HILT, a senior organization under the auspices of the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation. Monthly meetings include entertainment and/or informational presentations, followed by refreshments. Annual membership dues are $15. Contact the Ridgewood Parks and Recreation Department at (201) 670-5560.