Westwood Council Introduces Municipal Budget with $32 Annual Increase on Average Home

Homeowners in Westwood will see their municipal taxes increase $32 on the average house assessed at $398,240 if the 2011 proposed budget introduced Tuesday night is ultimately adopted.

Members of the Westwood council unanimously voted to introduce the $16,435,884 municipal budget during the council meeting Tuesday night. Councilman Peter Grefrath, head of the Finance Committee, pointed out that the proposed spending plan is $3,767 less than the 2010 budget.

The proposed tax levy increase is $351,319, bringing the tax levy to nearly $12 million. The tax levy is under the 2 percent tax levy cap imposed by the state by $839.

Grefrath said the proposed budget is using $1.36 million, or approximately 60 percent, of the total surplus.

He pointed out several large spending increases, including police salaries and wages, which increased $143,000; state pension contributions, which went up $109,000; and Bergen County Utility Authority payment, which increased $84,000.

According to Grefrath, there was "a silver lining" in the proposed budget. State aid to the borough remained flat for 2011 at $1,019,000, the tax collection rate remained strong in 2010 with 98.7 percent of taxes collected and ratables increased $30.7 million.

The budget contains no employee furloughs, layoffs or deferred pensions. "The governing body wanted to treat our municipal employees with the same respect that we owe our residents and we feel that this would assist in maintaining the valued services that our residents enjoy and appreciate," Grefrath said. "Our goal was to introduce a budget that does not contain an impact on services received by our residents."

Residents can obtain a copy of the proposed budget in the borough clerk's office. The public hearing on the budget, when council members will listen to feedback from residents, is scheduled for April 19.