EMERSON, N.J.—The Borough Council unanimously introduced a $14 million 2021 municipal budget with a proposed tax increase of about $93 on the average home on April 6.
No council members commented on the increase at the meeting. Mayor Danielle DiPaola offered brief remarks with few specifics.
A final public hearing is set for Tuesday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the governing body is Tuesday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. The borough said it is no longer going to use its GoToMeeting platform, so if you would like to participate during public comment, you are welcome to attend the meeting at Council Chambers, Borough Hall, 146 Linwood Ave.
The governing body will continue livestreaming on its YouTube channel.
The proposed $14,045,923 municipal budget shows “a very small increase of 2.67%” over last year’s [$13,964,212] budget, said DiPaola.
She said on an average Emerson home of $443,000, that increase would equal about $8 per month. DiPaola said she, the council, and staff would continue working on reducing the budget between now and May 4.
She said the budget was “a living and breathing document” and “we believe we will be able to adopt a budget with a number below $93.”
It was unclear how a recent Superior Court ruling against Emerson to expedite approvals of the Emerson Station mixed-use development—including 29 affordable units, plus 147 apartments and 15,000 square feet of retail space near the train station—would impact the 2021 budget.
Meanwhile, Pascack Valley towns are awaiting guidance from the state to determine how federal stimulus funds may be spent, with most hoping to apply the funds to reduce operating expenses and minimize property taxes. Emerson is slated to receive $746,172.
The funds are expected to arrive in two equal payments, said Fifth District Congressman Josh Gottheimer: one payment 60 days from notification and another within a year.
A municipal budget summary shows the proposed town budget includes the following major categories: operating expenses including salaries and wages at $5,113,099 and other expenses (benefits) at $6,187,701 These increased from 2020 costs of $4,876,068 and $5,627,723.
Deferred charges and other appropriations in 2021 are $1,221,921 and in 2020 were $1,072.913.
Capital improvements in 2021 are $65,000 versus $$854,000 in 2020.
Debt service costs (which includes schools) in 2021is $1,048,202 and in 2020 was $1,072,913.
The reserve for uncollected taxes in 2021 is $410,000 and in 2020 it was $400,000.
The 2021 summary shows as of Dec. 31, 2021, the borough has an outstanding bond balance of $9,085,900.
DiPaola said a copy of the proposed 2021 budget will be distributed to the borough library, posted on the borough website, and available via the borough clerk.
A proposed 2021 budget summary of revenues and appropriations was published in The Record Public Notices on April 12 and available at njpublicnotices.com.