Public Will Have Opportunity to Speak Out Regarding Municipal Budget Tuesday Night

The public will have an opportunity to speak out in regards to the proposed municipal budget during the mayor and council meeting Tuesday night which begins at 8 p.m. in council chambers.

The budget was March 22. The $18,429,052 budget has a tax levy, or amount to be raised by local taxes, of $14,569,290 which increases by 4.2 percent from last year.

This tax levy amount reflects the state mandated 2 percent cap for spending however that cap does not include the cost of health care and pension cost increases which is what makes up the other 2.2 percent increase, Borough Administrator and Chief Financial Officer Mike Kronyak had explained.

The borough learned in early March that they would not lose additional state aid after Governor Chris Christie made his budget address. However after losing more than $250,000 in aid in 2010 the borough was left with $100,000 which is the amount the borough will receive for this year as well.

When the budget was introduced last month, borough officials stated they would work hard to reduce it before the public hearing.  

Copies of the budget have been available for public review in the Borough Clerk’s office or on the borough’s web site.