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Borough budget introduced
(by Megan Burrow - April 09, 2008)
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At a glance
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Proposed budget
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General fund $15,346,742
Tax levy $10,900,911
Tax rate $0.668
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Average assessed home of $395,000
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Tax bill $2,638.60
Tax increase $55
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Assessed home of $300,000
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Tax bill $2,004
Tax increase $42
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Assessed home of $500,000
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Tax bill $3,340
Tax increase $70
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The Borough of Westwood introduced its preliminary 2008 municipal budget Tuesday April 1. The budget totals $15,346,742, an increase of $589,131 over the 2007 budget. Approximately $10.9 million of the budget will be raised through taxation.
Based on the proposed budget the owner of an average assessed home worth $395,000 will see their municipal taxes go up by $55 to a total of $2,638.60. The municipal taxes make up about 34 percent of Westwood residents’ total tax bill, with county and school district taxes making up the rest.
The council will use $1,234,000 in surplus for tax relief in the budget, about 50 percent of the 2007 year-end total. The borough’s debt has been reduced every single year since 2002, going down again this year by $144,000 from $18,925,000 to $18,856,203.
Councilman Peter Grefath commented that the budget was the result of a collaborative effort by the mayor and council, Borough Administrator Bob Hoffmann, Chief Financial Officer Raymond Herr, and Auditor Gary Vinci. “Last year was the first year in a long time that the entire council was involved in the budget,” Grefrath said. “In prior years the budget committee did the lion’s share. This year we got department heads, liaisons involved a lot earlier. It was a hands on effort.”
State aid to Westwood was reduced by $153,018 or 10.4 percent from the 2007 level while state mandates increased by $308,502. Grefrath stated that in this “tumultuous climate” the council set a goal to “deliver services in spite of the impending state cuts.” More cuts may be on the way in mid-May if Gov. Jon Corzine recommends the state budget be further reduced.
If that comes to pass, Grefrath said the council has three options: look for additional savings in the budget, raise taxes, or defer projects for future years.
In the capital budget, the borough is spending a total of $1,710,000 on administration costs, including $400,000 for road resurfacing, $950,000 to repair the Pascack Brook sewer line, and $230,000 for document imaging.
A total of $979,600 is going towards the Department of Public Works*, including $295,000 for a front-end loader, $40,000 for a pick-up truck, $150,000 for a garbage truck, $205,000 for a dump truck and sander, and $200,000 for a tree truck and chipper.
A total of $381,500 is allotted for the Fire Department and $54,000 for the Westwood Public Library. Upgrades to the
McKinley
Park tennis courts costing $125,000 and new lights for the fields in
Westvale
Park are part of the recreation budget, totaling $1,102,000. The borough also plans to hire a new recreation director as part of the $213,935 to be spent on Recreation Department salaries.
The Police Department will use an allotted $3,095,000 for police salaries, down from $3,127,00. The reduction is a result of two lieutenants who recently retired. There were also cuts in travel expenses and uniforms. $78,500 will be spent on the acquisition of police vehicles to replace an older vehicle and one that was burned last year. Grefrath said the borough will look into replacing the vehicles with hybrids as part of its larger effort to “go green.”
The capital budget for the Police Department totals $122,900 and includes money to be spent on laptops for police vehicles, portable radar, and a new SUV.
A public hearing on the budget will be held May 20.
Megan Burrow's e-mail address is burrow@northjersey.com.
* Correction - The capital project total for the DPW in 2008 was misreported. The total for this year is up to $295,000 for a front-end loader. The remaining money reported is part of the six year capital plan, and the borough is planning to acquire additional equipment in the future.
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