Fair Haven Budget, with Tiny Decrease, Dubbed Nearly 'Unbelievable' by State

It's almost unbelievable.

That's what Fair Haven officials said the fiscal powers that be at the state Department of Community Affairs' Division of Local Government Services had to say when the borough's $8 million budget, remaining flat for the sixth year in a row, was up for its mandatory state sanctioning.

"They got it, had trouble believing it and called Theresa (Casagrande, borough administrator) with some questions right away," Mayor Ben Lucarelli said at Monday night's meeting prior to the budget's approval. "She cleared up the questions in a few minutes and it was okayed. I think it was one of the quickest municipal budget approvals on record."

The OK from the state entity is necessary in adopting any municipal budget.

Local Government Services just did a double take in this instance, and wanted to know how Fair Haven officials could keep a municipal budget so austere for so long. And Casagrande's answer was not only satisfactory, but a model one for state officials, Lucarelli said.

The mayor gave kudos to Councilman Jonathan Peters, finance liaison, and Casagrande and her staff's astute response to council's request to whittle what was originally a small increase down to nothing.

This is the result of a long journey and a lot of tough decisions," Lucarelli said. 

And, actually, Casagrande noted, the budget brings with it not just a record flat tax rate, but a miniscule decrease — "something like .001 (cents)."

The $8 million municipal budget represents roughly $5 million to be raised by taxes. The municipal tax rate in Fair Haven is 45.7 cents per $100 of assessed property value, or down from 45.8 last year.

Officials have attributed savings in the budget to careful capital cuts, privatizing garbage pick-up and interlocal services agreements.