State Aid to Wayne Remains Flat

The Township will Receive the same amount of state aid this year, more than $4.3 million, as it did last year under Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed $32.1 billion budget, figures released Wednesday show.

The Township is set to receive more than $4,358,000, the same amount doled out from Trenton last year, according to the state Department of Community Affairs. 

“It’s certainly welcome, I just would have liked to see an increase to help give some relief to our overburdened taxpayers considering Passaic County residents pay the highest percentage of property taxes based on their income in the country,” said Council President Joseph Scuralli.

Mayor Chris Vergano did not return e-mail messages seeking comment.

State aid is used to help control property taxes, and Christie said no town would see its aid cut.

“This stable funding – coupled with such reforms as the 2 percent property tax cap, pension and health benefit reform and a 2 percent cap on interest arbitration awards – is driving down the cost of local government and controlling the property tax problem," Christie said in a statement.

Knowing the amount will help the township administration formulate a preliminary budget. The council will introduce that budget and a committee will be formed to work with Mayor Chris Vergano and the administration and develop a final budget, which the council will then vote on.