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Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • December 18, 2013 Area NBCUA budget will result in lower per customer cost The Board of Commissioners of the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority has unanimously approved a $12,972,502 operating budget for 2014. Chairman Brian Chewcaskie noted at this month’s special meeting that the budget represents a decrease of $2,632,005, or 17 percent from the authority’s amended 2013 budget of $15,604,507. “The budget will be submitted to the New Jersey Divi- sion of Local Government Services for their approval,” Chewcaskie said. “Distribution of the final budget and the 2013 final user service charges will be made as soon as possible, but no later than Jan. 15, 2014 as stipulated in our service contract.” It was also announced that the process included an amendment to the preliminary budget that had been approved by the authority commissioners on Oct. 16. This amendment was an adjustment to the projected capital budget for 2014, rescheduling several anticipated major capital projects from 2014 to 2015. The revision does not impact either the operating budget or the oper- ating revenues required for 2014, officials said. Other highlights of the budget include: The 2014 operating portion of the $10,328,405 budget increased by $383,660 or 3.86 percent from the 2013 budget. The debt service portion of the budget decreased by $2,901,665, resulting from the retirement of authority bonds. The capital improvement portion of the budget decreased by $114,000. There was discussion that, even though flow intake was lower than normal, relatively few municipalities would experience increases due to infiltration at some municipal lines. Even in such cases, the cost per cus- tomer was reduced from $324 to $323, the lowest since 2000. As is the customary standard, revenue anticipated from user charges will vary for each community depend- ing on the factors applied for adjusted meter flow, water use, and the number of equivalent dwelling units. According to Chewcaskie, the total amount from all user communities required to balance the 2014 budget is $11,999,923, which is a reduction of $1,454,032 from the original 2013 budget. This budget was amended in Sep- tember to reflect the approximately $1.6 million in ser- vice charge reductions for 2013. The increase in service charges is 1.2 percent over the 2013 amended budget. From its plant operating in Waldwick since 1969, the authority’s service area accommodates the sewer requirements of 75,000 residents. Current municipal members include Allendale, Franklin Lakes, Ho-Ho- Kus, Mahwah, Midland Park, Ramsey, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, and Wyckoff. The Vil- lage of Ridgewood also has a service agreement with the NBCUA. Atlantic Stewardship’s Food Drive exceeds expectations ASB New Account Representative Michael Hyatt (right) and Mark Messina of Star of Hope Ministries. During the month of November, Atlantic Steward- ship Bank conducted a Food Drive throughout all of its branches. This annual effort aims to replenish the food pantry reserves that are depleted by the Thanksgiving holiday. All month long, both customers and bank asso- ciates are asked to fill the baskets with non-perishable food items. “This year’s collection once again exceeded our expectations,” said Tonni von Schaumburg, the bank’s assistant vice president of marketing. “When we con- tacted the local food pantries they were all very grate- ful as donations continue to remain considerably below previous years.” The collected food was distributed to local food pantries both before and after Thanksgiving. The ben- eficiaries of this year’s drive include the Social Service Organization of Ridgewood, CUMAC, Star of Hope Ministries, Oasis: A Haven for Women & Children, the Pequannock Township Food Pantry, the Wayne Inter- faith Network, Harvest Outreach Ministries in Paterson, Westwood Cares, and New Hope Ministries in Haledon. Atlantic Stewardship Bank, a subsidiary of Steward- ship Financial Corporation, maintains banking locations in Hawthorne, Midland Park, Montville, North Haledon, Pequannock, Ridgewood, Waldwick, Wayne, Westwood, and Wyckoff. Established in 1985, ASB is a full-service community bank serving both individuals and busi- nesses. The bank’s website is www.asbnow.com.