Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • December 18, 2013 NBCUA budget will result in lowest cost since 2000 The Board of Commissioners of the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Author- ity 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 Division 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 prelimi- nary budget that had been approved by the authority commissioners on Oct. 16. This amendment was an adjustment to the pro- jected 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 operating revenues required for 2014, offi- cials 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, rela- tively few municipalities would experience increases due to infiltration at some munic- ipal lines. Even in such cases, the cost per customer 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 depending on the fac- tors 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 September to reflect the approximately $1.6 million in service charge reductions for 2013. The increase in service charges is 1.2 percent over the 2013 amended budget. From its plant operating in Waldwick, the authority’s service area accommodates the sewer requirements of 75,000 resi- dents. Members include Allendale, Frank- lin Lakes, Ho-Ho-Kus, Mahwah, Midland Park, Ramsey, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, and Wyckoff. Ridgewood also has a service agreement.