HILLSDALE, N.J.—Mayor John Ruocco said on April 5 that the Hillsdale Council will introduce the 2021 budget at its meeting on April 6, advising that the budget calls for a 5.33% municipal tax increase, or $138 on the average assessed home.
He said the increase reflects a combination of factors: reduction in fee revenue due to COVID, a down payment of $500,000 toward the issuance of a 10-year $10 million bond to finance a new community center and improvements to Centennial Field, switching to year-round twice a week garbage pick-up, increased pension costs, and greater county utility charges.
“The budget also incorporates savings that are expected to be achieved from entering into a shared service contract with the county for police/emergency dispatch services, and from providing support to the Library to the extent required by New Jersey statute. State aid to the municipality remains flat, as it has for many years,” he said.
We reported in March that a preliminary municipal budget with a 0% increase that permits the twice-a-week garbage pickups residents have long requested likely will be introduced April 6. That was according to Borough Business Administrator Christopher Tietjen, who on March 9 said that he has discussed preliminary budgets with the borough’s Finance Committee ranging 0% to 4% increases. Itt appeared the 0% increase would be recommended on April 6, said that committee’s chairperson, Abby Lundy, at the time.
Information on the budget is available via links embedded in the April 6 Council agenda, posted on the Borough’s website, including a Finance Committee presentation and a one page budget summary: Agenda Council Meeting 4-6-21, Finance Committee Presentation, One Page Budget Summary. A formal public hearing is required on the budget is scheduled for May 4.
In the introduction announcement, Ruocco said the borough is slated to receive $1,012,000 in stimulus funds no later than June. “We are awaiting guidance from the federal government on what those funds can be used for, which may include offsetting all or a portion of the tax increase. This guidance, if received soon, may prompt changes to the budget, as would further discussions and decisions by the council between now and the expected adoption date of May 4.”
He thanked the Finance Committee, the borough administrator, and the chief municipal finance officer for their efforts in crafting the budget.