DMDA Plans 2011 Budget Reduction

The Downtown Millburn Development Alliance is not planning another hike in how much property owners have to pay and intends to reduce its budget for 2011.

DMDA Executive Director Harold Klein gave an overview of the special improvement district's preliminary 2011 budget during Tuesday's Township Committee meeting. The preliminary budget calls for a $253,038 budget for 2011, which is down from the $263,380 budget for 2010.

Despite the decrease in the budget, the DMDA will be able to maintain its marketing budget, Klein said. They've looked to save money in other ways, like the new contractor maintaining the downtown sidewalks, he said. The agency has been pleased with the work thus far, he said.

In order to maintain the assessment of $195,000 on the downtown properties that pays in part for the budget, Klein said, the DMDA intends to use nearly $20,000 in surplus. The assessment a year ago. It was the first increase in the assessment since the DMDA was formed. The assessment is divided among the properties downtown, and the larger properties pay the majority of the cost.

There is a drop in revenue in some areas, like what would be raised by the annual Snowflake Parade

Klein also reviewed the marketing the DMDA has done thus far in 2010. The marketing budget for 2011 will remain the same at $15,000. "We want to market at the same level," he said.

They've created a video marketing downtown with Channel 36, which has been shot and is now in production. It'll be put on YouTube when it's completed in a month or two. The DMDA also is looking to revamp its website, which could be done by the end of the year to be more customer-friendly.

They've also placed advertisements in several print publications including the New York Times, Suburban Essex and The Item. Klein said they plan to expand to advertise with online publications in 2011.

In 2011, the DMDA will add a Girls Night Out event, which has been successful in other communities, said DMDA President John Buchholz. It would replace the fashion show, which was held in 2009, but Buchholz said it would get people into downtown more rather than at one gathering spot.