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Mayor's Message - Winter 2009/10 |
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 As we approach the end of 2009, half way through our 2010 fiscal year budget, it seems appropriate to respond to some of the areas of concerns expressed recently by our residents. In no particular order these concerns center on the borough’s fiscal health, the recent property revaluation, borough spending, and the near term future due to the nationwide recession.
In spite of the present recession the community remains fiscally strong and the present budget does not include an increase in spending in spite of inflationary pressures. We continue to collect the majority of taxes on a timely basis. We have sold some tax liens on delinquent properties where required to maintain our revenue stream. This is not unique to Bergenfield and does not have a serious impact on the borough.
An indication of the borough’s fiscal health was reflected earlier in the year when the borough did not find it necessary to take advantage of a state plan that would have allowed us to pay only 50% of our pension obligations this year. While many communities found it necessary to adopt the plan, we did not believe it was fiscally responsible as it only postponed debt payments to future years.
The recent property tax revaluation reflected in the 3rd quarter 2009 tax bill corrected the gross inequities resulting from the 2004-05 revaluation and will save the 7000 residential property owners approximately $3,000,000 annually. Prior to the revaluation, residential property owners were paying more than their fair share of taxes.
It is no secret that the State of New Jersey is deeply in debt for many reasons including past borrowing practices and the present recession. With the January 2010 change in the state administration we expect to see cuts in state aid to the community as well as to our school system.
While there are few major options available to offset the expect loss of state revenue without reducing services, the borough has taken or will take additional steps in the near future to reduce expenditures. These include the installation of solar panels to generate electricity, improvement in the use of electrical power by changing to more efficient lighting, a change in telephone provider to use VOIP technology, preparing payroll in-house rather than using an outside contractor, a change in garbage disposal methods at our apartment houses and a renegotiated insurance program on our buildings which were over insured.
Regardless of what the future may bring I’m confident that your borough council and the borough staff are capable of resolving them while maintaining the quality of life that we have come to expect in our community.
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