School, Municipal Budgets Sweep Top Weekly News

River Edge Municipal Budget Calls for Lowest Increase in Three Years

For the first time in the past few years, River Edge taxpayers will see a tax hike that is under $100 as the borough introduced its 2013 municipal budget earlier this week.

The $14.4 million budget calls for an $11.9 million tax levy which will be broken down into a $77 increase for the average homeowner. In prior years, taxpayers were hit by a $234 increase in 2011 and then $140 in 2012 along with borough employees forced to take furlough days two years ago. The currently proposed 2013 budget does not include any furloughs for the second year.

Mayor Sandy Moscaritolo and the River Edge Council issued the following statement this afternoon regarding the 2013 municipal budget

Over the next 11 years, River Edge and Oradell taxpayers will see approximately $1.2 million in savings through the Regional School Budget.

The district introduced its $30 million budget for 2013-14 on Monday night and revealed that by refinancing the remaining debt service from the 2003 referendum, taxpayers will see significant savings in the years to come.

Facing savings residents $4 per house, the River Edge Board of Education opted to place the additional $23,000 in state aid into the $15,658,231 budget on Wednesday night. The budget, which comes in at the 2% tax levy cap of $13,508,217, calls for a $70 increase to the average homeowner. 

Board members initially debated returning the additional funding to homeowners but felt that the $4 per taxpayer would not yield enough of an impact over setting it aside to help with the upcoming state mandated teacher evaluations.

With state aid remaining flat and Trenton requiring $43,261 to be returned, the Oradell Public School's 2013-14 budget will include a $43 increase to the average homeowner under the recently introduced $11.1 million budget.

The proposed budget comes in at the state mandate 2% tax levy cap of $10,043,194 after OPS learned it would again receive $328,932 in state aid.

Fernando Alonso of Oradell and former Freeholder John Driscoll of Paramus will now take part in a second vote next week to determine who will challenge Sen. Bob Gordon this fall.

Next fall, Muhlenberg College will welcome a trifecta of Bergen Catholic Crusaders as AJ Gallagher, John Feaster and Dom Mattia have all chosen to compete for the D-3 Mules football team.

All three athletes have been a starting member of the Crusaders for the past few years with Gallagher (Wyckoff) serving as tightend, Feaster (Washington Township) as a wide receiver, defensive back and kick-off returner, and Mattia (Cedar Grove) as an offensive lineman.

With no clear consensus among the governing body, River Edge will dedicate an entire April work session with the borough engineer and planner on what should be done with the former DPW yard on Grove Street.

The lot, which is partially zoned commercial and partially residential, was the subject of a prior discussion to convert the lot into commuter parking but came with a pricetag of at least $100,000.

Early Tuesday afternoon, Sustainable Jersey announced that River Edge was one of 10 municipalities that had received their 2013 certification. The borough's certification is good for the next three years.

The 3rd grade girls basketball squad of River Edge/St. Peter's won the 2013 CYO title this past weekend by defeating OLM of Park Ridge, 26-11.

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