Ridgewood Taxes Increase With Approval Of $57M Budget: Officials

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Ridgewood residents will see about a $240 municipal tax increase next year, with the village council's approval of its $57.7 million budget.

The village council opted on April 27 to hike local taxes by about 4 percent to help cover about $2.6 million in federal coronavirus recovery funds no longer available, lawmakers said.

"I can't say that I am happy with any real tax increase," Council Member Evan Weitz said at the special meeting. "But given the headwinds, this makes sense to me, and I agree with it."

He and village clerk Heather Mailander suggested the loss of COVID relief funds had left a "huge hole" in the municipal budget.

The village has gone years with little-to-no tax increases, Weitz noted, adding, "At some point, (we) have to catch up to inflation."

Councilwoman Siobhan Winograd said that she was very happy with the budget as a lot of people were slightly unhappy — which meant "there were a lot of compromises."

"This has been a difficult balancing act," Winograd said. "I just want to express incredible gratitude for (those who had a hand in) in the process."

Winograd said she is especially grateful for the fact the village would not need to furlough people, which — Mayor Paul Vagianos said — had been "on the table" earlier in the budget discussions.

"Nobody wanted that," Mayor Vagianos said. "It was a tough year, but Heather (Mailander) and (the village's CFO) Bob (Rooney) figured it out and worked tirelessly to get this done. We are all so grateful."

Weitz said he is also proud that the village has project goals set for this year and that looks to get things done, including the completed restoration of the historic Schedler house and property, and the return of dining corrals and the pedestrian plaza — food and cultural concepts that had ended last year.

Other key goals, he and village clerk Heather Mailander said, are road paving, replacement of public safety vehicles, and addressing polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or "forever chemicals," in water.

"I want to thank everyone on behalf of this council," Mayor Vagianos said. "I love seeing our village, staff and family included, here in the audience as we finish the budget."

Councilwoman Lorraine Reynolds was not present at the meeting and thus did not vote.