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Increase is $48, down from $76
(by Kathryn A. Burger - March 19, 2008)
Were it not for the anticipated reduction in state aid, municipal taxes in the Borough of Park Ridge would not be going up.
As reported, the council’s Finance Committee – Kenneth Brouwer, Richard Henning, and Gerard Maughan – was determined to find a way to further reduce taxes by re-examining budget proposals submitted by various borough departments and taking another look at other expenses.
At its March 11 meeting, the council approved the committee’s recommendations that resulted in reducing the increase from $76 to $48, on the average assessed home valued at $505,000.
The $200,713 state aid cut increased the average tax levy by $56 all by itself so with these additional cuts, taxes would go down $8 if the aid were restored.
Gene Vinci, the borough administrator, said there were several cuts approved including $5,000 from the Shade Tree Committee budget; $6,000 from the estimated cost of a borough-wide efficiency study; $5,000 from street sweeping costs; and $3,000 from seasonal labor costs for the road department. He said the mayor and council took pay cuts as well, $600 and $500 each, respectively.
In all, the committee proposed $100,000 in cuts. It was decided to appropriate an additional $30,000 from surplus. The net result of all the cuts resulted in a $70,000 reduction on the expense side of the budget, Vinci said.
The council will introduce the budget at its Tuesday, March 25 meeting that will begin at 8 p.m.
Kathryn A. Burger's e-mail address is burger@northjersey.com.
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