Westwood Council Faces State Mandates, Rising Costs in Budget Determination

Westwood Chief Financial Officer Raymond Herr offered a general overview of the borough budget at a special meeting of the mayor and council Wednesday night, saying the task at hand was like facing a “perfect budget storm.”

“This year is different in that we are facing state mandates that were not in place before,” said Herr, referring, in part, to the 2 percent tax levy cap imposed by the state, as well as rising health care costs, pensions and a shrinking surplus.

But the mood was all business, despite the task ahead.

“The problems we’re facing are no different, though, than what every other town is facing,” said Councilman Peter Grefrath. “The budget challenge is daunting but it’s not insurmountable.”

The special meeting served as a preparatory review of next week's meeting where the budget will be “hammered out line by line,” said Mayor John Birkner Jr.

Some items discussed:

• The council agreed that its goal was to come in at a 1 percent increase, as they have done in past years, rather than shoot for the 2 percent cap.
• The average home is presently assessed at $398,420 (up from $398,000 last year); the small percentage increase (approximately $48), however, will not affect budget demands.
• State aid has remained the same ($1,019,136)
• The budget surplus has decreased by $437,736 (to $2,252,264). Herr said the state is trying to get municipalities to use up its surplus money but how much the borough will use won’t be decided until final numbers are crunched.
• Library, recreation, grounds and maintenance and utilities were among the departments briefly discussed, although no decisions were made.
• The Department of Public Works’ contract negotiations are pending, which will be a factor in final budget determination.

Herr made a note regarding employee overtime and costs for snow plowing this winter.

“Because there are quite a few county roads in Westwood, we will bill the county and be reimbursed for those costs,” he said.

“We have a lot of work to do and it won’t be easy, but we want what’s best for everyone,” said Birkner.

Next week, the budget meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 9 at 6 p.m. in the , 101 Washington Ave.