Summertime Blues

Earlier this evening, we held what will likely be the final Budget Workshop for the 2009 Budget cycle. After many meetings over the past 9 months, and the news last week that we received $750,000 in Extraordinary Aid from the State, we are on the verge of finalizing the Municipal Budget which results in a Municipal Tax increase of just around 3.95%. I say "around", because there is still one item to be finalized - the subsidy to SOPAC. This year, SOPAC requested $265,000 from the Village, but this evening I proposed reducing it by another $20,000. Due to the incredible financial pressure that all residents are feeling in their own lives, SOPAC must also tighten their belts and like all of us, they must simply learn to live with less.

In other budget news, we also agreed to hire 3 new Police Officers to replace a number of the officers that are retiring this year. There is always a difficult balance between staffing needs and our crushing tax burden, however maintaining our tremendous Police Department must be our top priority and we agreed to send 3 new recruits to the Police Academy beginning in September.

The end of budget season is always bittersweet. Certainly, it is a relief to have gotten to the end of an incredibly difficult budget year. It is also incredibly gratifying that we managed to go from the threat of a 25% increase at the beginning of this year to something south of 3.95%. At the same time, it's incredibly frustrating that even after all the hard work, we still are forced to raise taxes at a rate that will cost the average homeowner approximately an additional $600 this year, when the County & School levy is also factored in. It is clearer than ever that the property tax system in NJ is a complete mess and needs radical reform at the State Level. It's disappointing that there is an election for Governor in November and none of the candidates are even seriously talking about doing anything. So, unfortunately, we can expect the status quo for the foreseeable future. Very sad, indeed.