Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • April 18, 2012 Allendale Council sets adoption hearing for municipal budget by John Koster The last elements have all come together, and Allendale’s municipal-purpose budget will remains flat, with a zero tax increase for administration, police, roads and other services. The total budget for municipal services will be $12,012,118. This spending plan does not include costs associated with the schools or with Bergen County. “We are going to have a zero percent tax increase for the municipal budget for the second year in a row,” Allendale Mayor Vince Barra said. “This goes beyond being unprecedented.” Mayor Barra said that a $600,000 tax refund to commercial properties on Boroline Road, which had been deemed over-assessed, was offset in part by a refund of $300,000 from the funding for the municipal library. “Our department heads did a great job. We are not cutting services,” Barra added. Going over some of the highlights, Barra noted that the PBA contract and the contract for non-badge members of the police department had been settled at two percent for each group. He said that, while the state had mandated an increase of 10 percent in benefits, Allendale, with the cooperation of the police officers, had begun a program in which officers who earn more than $100,000 a year will begin to pay for some of their own insurance and benefits. Over time, Bara said, the best-paid police officers could eventually be paying 35 percent of their own benefits. The public hearing on the budget will take place on May 10, and Allendale Administrative Officer Gwen McCarthy said detailed copies should be available for inspection this week. Mayor Barra thanked all department heads, in particular McCarthy, Chief Financial Officer Lisa Mayer, and Council Members Susan LaMonica and Elizabeth White. Former council member Robert Paterson was present at last week’s council meeting. Mayor Barra joked with Paterson as he appointed Paterson and his son, Robert Paterson Jr., as Allendale’s part-time dog census workers. Barra asked if the Patersons had proper identification to conduct the dog census, and Paterson -- a retired CFO from several large corporations -- admitted that he had no specific credentials. “Maybe we should get you a Big Dog T-shirt,” Mayor Barra said. “My son is way bigger than I am,” Paterson said. “We’ll get one for him, then,” Mayor Barra said.