Politics & Government
$4 Million Budget Increase Possible For Wayne; Council Meets Wednesday
Wayne officials will seek to address a projected $4 million deficit as they present a proposed budget for 2023.
WAYNE, NJ — Wayne officials will introduce the 2023 municipal budget at a special meeting Wednesday, which may be about $4 million higher than last year's.
The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. April 12 in the council chambers at the Wayne Municipal Building (475 Valley Road, Wayne NJ 07470).
At this meeting, council members and Mayor Christopher P. Vergano are expected to approve the introduction of the budget, and then have a public hearing so residents have time to look it over and give feedback.
Find out what's happening in Waynefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Mayor Vergano said at a February meeting that the city was "concerned" about the budget, saying the township may need to increase the budget by about $4 million, or seven to eight tax points.
"We're trying to get that down," Vergano said at the meeting, citing rising costs for insurance, pensions, and day-to-day expenses like gasoline for township vehicles.
Find out what's happening in Waynefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
You may view the agenda for the meeting here. Wayne officials said the proposed budget will be available after Wednesday. A public hearing on the budget will be May 17, said township clerk Paul V. Margiotta.
"We, together, are going to have to make some tough decisions on what the budget increase is going to be, what is going to be cut if anything, what programs are going to be eliminated, what programs will be added, and how many employees we'll continue have in this building," Vergano said at the council meeting on Feb. 15.
Councilwoman Francine Ritter questioned the news of the budget deficit, reminding Vergano he had asked for a $121,000 raise at the beginning of this year. Ritter spoke after council members decided to table an ordinance that would increase the stipend pay for Wayne's volunteer first responders, due to budget concerns.
"You wanted us to come up with this money, I guess you thought that you would find it somewhere," she said. "And, now we can’t find this (money)?"
Last year's municipal budget had appropriations of around $87 million, so a $4 million increase would bring the budget over $90 million.
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