DMDA Budget Approved Without Comment

The 2010 Downtown Millburn Development Alliance budget will increase the assessment for each of the downtown's property owners for the first time in the organization's history.

The Township Committee approved the 2010 budget during its meeting Tuesday night. No one commented during the public hearing.

The assessment will increase from $160,000 to $195,000, which will then be split among all of the properties in the downtown area. At a meeting in October, Harold Klein, DMDA executive director, said 12 of the property owners pay half of the assessment. Most property owners pay about $700, and the increase for them would be $140.

The reason for the increase is to raise more money to pay for increased marketing and visual improvements to downtown during the hard economic times. The proposed budget calls for a 21.5 percent increase in budgeted visual improvements costs and a 55.1 percent increase in budgeted marketing costs.

The DMDA has yet to hear if it has been awarded the state's Main Street designation. If selected, the designation brings with it guidance from state officials in how to improve the downtown area.