Ho-Ho-Kus May 2, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 Council adopts municipal budget with zero tax increase by Jennifer Crusco The Ho-Ho-Kus Council has approved its $7,913,116 budget for 2012 with no increase in the current tax for municipal purposes. The council’s action took place last week after a brief summary by Ho-Ho-Kus Chief Financial Officer Joseph Citro. Because the state has yet to approve the borough’s spending plan, Citro noted that the budget might be subject to amendments at the May council session. Auditor Paul Garbarini Jr. said the figures have been checked over and appear to be in order. However, he said Scouts celebrate milestone with Paulson the state is behind in its work, having been inundated with local budgets. The public hearing drew no comments from the audience, which included residents and members of the Ho-HoKus Chamber of Commerce. The borough’s budget does not include taxes associated with the local school district or Bergen County. The council also approved the two self-liquidating budgets associated with the borough’s utilities, including an $856,000 budget for the water utility and an $885,000 budget for the solid waste utility. This year’s municipal budget will include an increase in surplus. Last year, surplus totaled $130,000, while the 2012 surplus is expected to reach $187,000. The 2012 budget includes $5,569,423 in appropriations that are within the cap, $2,123,693 in appropriations that are excluded from the cap, and a $220,000 reserve for uncollected taxes. Anticipated revenues have been budgeted at $1,311,612. Local revenues are expected to increase this year, and have been budgeted at $486,300, up from $418,244 in 2011. Sources of local revenues include $156,000 from the rental of municipal property, $96,000 from parking meter fees, $74,400 from municipal court fees, $58,000 from the cable franchise fee, $43,000 from interest and costs on taxes, (continued on page 10) Above: Rachael Paulson visits with children in South Africa. At right: Paulson with the Junior Girl Scouts who tried carrying water on their heads like the African women Paulson met who travel seven miles for water. The Ho-Ho-Kus Girl Scouts celebrated the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting on Earth Day, April 22. The celebration was held at the Community Church of Ho-Ho-Kus and featured a special appearance by Rachael Paulson, founder of the HOW Global initiative, and author of children’s books about environmental topics. Paulson, who resides in Sparta, launched her global initiative to help people in areas that do not have safe drinking water. She is a teacher, speaker, and ambassador for the United Nations. Paulson shared her experiences with the Girl Scouts, describing the walk she took from a rural school village in Africa to its water source. She also shared stories about her journey to parts of the United States, Haiti, and South Africa, where she uses funds raised by her books to bring clean water and filters called “Lifestraws” to children who must walk miles for water. Gaining a taste of life in other parts of the world, HoHo-Kus Girl Scouts carried buckets of water on their heads and walked across the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook Bridge as a ceremonial “bridging” to celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting.