NB cuts tax levy in $111M school budget

Audit released, street work contracts awarded

The North Bergen Board of Commissioners cut the amount that will be requested from taxpayers to pay for the $111 million school budget at their May 13 meeting.
They shaved $751,820 from the original $39 million school tax levy, lowering the school tax increase from 4 to 2 per cent.
The remainder of the budget not paid for through taxation is funded by state and federal aid. The total $111 million budget is up almost $1.5 million from last year.
The commissioners had to cut some spending after the voters voted down the budget in April.
Town Administrator Christopher Pianese said about $300,000 worth of cuts were significant. He said they found savings in health benefits that could be reduced “based on the market and where we’re dealing with.”
Another $300,000 was transferred from the North Bergen Board of Education’s surplus, said Pianese.
The remaining deductions were line item cuts the board recommended.
“The budget went to voters at a 4 percent [tax levy increase],” said Pianese. “In this day and age, we’re very happy to keep it below 4 percent.”

Annual audit

The board also released its yearly township audit, which had very “minimal” suggestions, said Pianese. The report was compiled by Township Chief Financial Officer Robert Pittfield.
He found that some eligible employees were not enrolled in the state pension plan, that some cash receipts in the clerk’s office were not being maintained correctly, that funds in the clerk’s and Health Department offices were not being deposited within 48 hours, and that the court was not always following the right procedure with tickets that were “old,” according to the report.
Pianese said that all it takes is one deposit delayed over 48 hours to be included on the list, and that there are sometimes situations where this inevitably happens.

Contract for sewer improvement

A contract for the ongoing sewer improvements to 44th Street was also approved at $127,865 for Montana Construction of Lodi. The contract includes rock excavation and disposal, new sewer pipes, concrete easements, and supports and manholes.
Pianese said that the project was being funded by a Community Block Development Grant.

Announces street paving

North Bergen and its department of public works approved a $413,739 contract with Joseph Sanzari of Hackensack for this year’s street improvements. The funding was received through a grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, said Pianese.
“The residents are always happy to see the award of paving of various streets,” said Pianese. “The work should be done during the summer months.”
The streets that will be paved are 48th Street and Liberty Avenue to Bulls Ferry Road; 92nd Street from Bergenwood to Bergen Boulevard; 44th Street from Bergen Turnpike to Grand Avenue; Columbia Avenue from 64th to 67th Street; Grand Avenue from 26th to 28th Street; and 48th Street from Bergen Turnpike to Grand Avenue.
The board of commissioners also passed a resolution applying for a New Jersey Department of Transportation grant for their 2010 paving project.

Agrees to tunnel project

They also passed a resolution entering into an agreement with N.J. Transit Corporation for their “Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel Project.”
The new mass transit project will need North Bergen to abandon and/or relocate sewer lines, but since N.J. Transit has agreed to pay for all costs, North Bergen has approved the work.

Poet receives accommodation

Ken Patel, a North Bergen resident who published his own poetry book titled “The West Horizon,” was commended by Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the commissioners.
“They are, at least some of them are, directly related to our community and where we live,” said Sacco about Patel.
Patel frequently submits poems to the Reporter letters page, too.
Patel thanked the board and said that North Bergen was a wonderful community.

Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.

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