Building A Parking Garage, Outsourcing Coin Counting Were Discussed At Budget Meeting

Ridgewood officials were slated to introduce the 2015 municipal budget Wednesday night.

A presentation was given at a council meeting about the budget’s $47.1 million operating budget, which includes a $31.3 million tax levy.

If officials approve the budget next month, the average homeowner’s municipal taxes would increase by about $47. The average homeowner would pay $4,013 in municipal taxes.

Some highlights of the proposed budget are:

• Implementing a parkmobile system and other strategies to enhance parking options. This would also help reduce the amount of time spent handling quarters.

• Hiring a new chief financial officer/parking utility director.

• Outsourcing the counting of coins collected from parking meters.

Officials want to “do everything necessary” to begin building a parking garage by 2016.

Officials also want to continue the No Leaf Behind program and launch a new Village website.

Employee salaries, health insurance, pensions, and vacation time, and terminal leave time currently account for about $28.3 million, or slight more than 60 percent, of the total operating budget.

The council is slated to approve the budget at the May 27 council meeting.