May 1, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 Ho-Ho-Kus Council introduces pair of bond ordinances by Jennifer Crusco At last week’s public session, the Ho-Ho-Kus Council introduced two bond ordinances to cover the costs of various public improvements and the acquisition of a new vehicle and equipment. Both ordinances will be up for public hearing, and will be considered for final passage, at the May 28 council meeting. Ordinance 1012 includes $275,000 for the resurfacing of various borough roads and the reconstruction of curbs as necessary. This appropriation includes a down payment of $13,100. The balance is to be funded by bonds and notes. A resolution approved at the same meeting awarded the paving bid to D&L Paving Contractors of Nutley for $111,186. The Borough of Ramsey acted as the lead agency in advertising for multiple municipalities’ resurfacing bids, which include projects in Allendale, Glen Rock, Franklin Lakes, Ho-Ho-Kus, Midland Park, Ramsey, Saddle River, The Ho-Ho-Kus Council has approved its $8,166,529 municipal-purpose budget for 2013. The tax rate associated with this budget is 0.57 per $100 of assessed value, which will result in a zero percent tax increase for the owner of a home assessed at $750,000, the borough’s average. This municipal tax rate could result in a tax increase or decrease for other property owners. The budget does not include taxes associated with other entities, such as the local school district or Bergen County, which contribute to the overall property tax. The budget is under the levy cap, and surplus has increased again this year, as it has for the last three years. Surplus is listed at $187,000 this year. This year, the total amount to be raised by taxation is $6,646,054, and miscellaneous revenues will total $1,153,476. The minimum library tax is $414,712. The appropriation for net employee group insurance Budget for 2013 now approved will decrease to $532,000 in 2013, down from $625,000 in 2012. The reserve for uncollected taxes will be $230,000, up from $220,000 in 2012. The capital budget includes $3,409,000 in general improvements, including $115,000 for road improvements, $245,000 for department of public works equipment, $88,000 for police department upgrades and vehicles, $1,260,000 for sewer department upgrades and equipment, $75,000 for fire department improvements, and $1,626,000 for water department improvements. The council also approved the self-liquidating budgets for the solid waste utility and the water department. The solid waste budget is $830,000 and the water budget is $929,890. Copies of the budget are available at borough hall and on the borough’s website. No members of the public made comment during last week’s public hearing. J. CRUSCO Waldwick, Wyckoff, and Ridgewood. Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Administrator Don Cirulli told Villadom TIMES the council decided to add another street after the borough went out to bid on the first three areas to be resurfaced. Those areas include Boiling Spring Road, Barnett Place, and the train station parking lot. The bid amount could not be changed, so the extra money was added to the bond ordinance, Cirulli explained. He added that the borough is planning to resurface the south half of West Saddle River Road, and may have to go out to bid separately for this additional work. He added that the additional funds dedicated to resurfacing projects would also cover the cost of any necessary curb work, which D&L does not handle. Ordinance 1012 also includes a sum of $230,000 for a street sweeper, replacement of gas pumps at the department of public works yard, and the replacement of parking machines at the train station. Of that sum, $11,000 would be a down payment and $219,000 would be funded by bonds. The ordinance also includes $90,000 for police department purchases, which include a sport utility vehicle, (continued on page 19)