Politics & Government
Oradell Mayor and Council Adopt 2013 Municipal Budget
Residents face $497 total average tax increase on a house assessed at $472,343.
The Oradell Mayor and Council adopted the 2013 Municipal Budget during Tuesday's Public meeting. The adopted budget calls for a total local levy of $11,177,602 (includes Municipal and Library). Oradell homeowners will see a total average annual increase of $496.92 on a house assessed at the new average of $472,343, down from the former average of $531,722. This represents a 3.98 percent increase over 2012. With the increase, the tax bill on an average assessed house will be $12,976.02 for 2013.
Councilman Garrie Murphy, Chair of the Finance Committee, gave a public presentation detailing the 2013 Budget Appropriations:
Police, Crossing Guards, OEM, Fire $3,075,572 Public Works (DPW) $2,337,775 Insurance (Liability and Emp. Benefits) $2,181,310 Debt Service $1,364,600 Social Security, PERS, PFRS, Unemployment and LOSAP $1.114.413 Bergen County Utility Authority $896,000 General Gvt (Admin) $1,388,706 Public Library $578,509 Reserve for Uncollected Taxes $504,634 Utilities (Street Lights, telephone, hydrant and gas) $447,160 Other (CIF, Res for Tax Appeals, Deferred Charges, etc.) $555,760 Total Appropriations $14,444,439In talking about the expenditures, Murphy said that approximately 60 percent of the budget is contractually controlled, leaving only 40 percent open to look for cost savings in order to decrease taxes. Additionally, state aid is "essentially flat." Murphy said that 62 percent of every tax dollar goes towards the schools, while 28 percent goes towards the Borough and the Library, and 10 percent goes towards County Open Space.
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Murphy credited using money from surplus funds to keep the tax rates low. However, he stressed that in using that surplus, the amount has decreased. And although $1 million received for the cell phone tower was deposited into surplus, Murphy said that a portion of it had to be used.
"Our revenues do not meet expenditures," Murphy said. He suggested that one way to generate revenue is to embrace ratables through "intelligent land development."
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Murphy also suggested exploring cost reductions through Shared Services Agreements, "But only where they make sense," he stressed.
"We need to bring in more money by seizing more development in our business corridor," Murphy said. Without finding new revenue sources, he said that municipal services would face being diminished or becoming "a la carte."
Members of the Budget Finance Committee are:
Councilman Garrie Murphy, Chair and Councilmen James Koth and Eric Shuler.
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