The six-month budget the Guttenberg Council unanimously approved at their Sept. 27 meeting is an amended $8.3 million version that will finance municipal spending until January, when the town will transition from a fiscal June 30 to July 1 schedule to a calendar year budget.
The budget’s portion of state aid was amended to reflect a $23,470 reduction. According to Mayor Gerald Drasheff, the reduction was due to timing, since that much aid will be added to next year’s calendar budget. State aid dropped from $1,247,784 to $1,224,314.
The taxpayers’ contribution to the budget will remain at $5.5 million. The average property owner will experience around a 5.5 percent or $100 increase in their third and fourth quarter tax bills.
“It is a net reduction of $10,000.” – Gerald Drasheff.
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Tax reval on the way
During the council’s caucus meeting, Drasheff said the budget would be sent to the county as soon as possible so a finalized tax rate could be set and tax bills could be sent out. He said that the town also hoped to send notices to property owners of the town’s upcoming property revaluation with those bills.
The revaluation of all of the town’s real estate is intended to balance out differences and determine Guttenberg’s new town-wide value for taxation based on current market values. Guttenberg has entered into a $220,000 contract with Appraisal Systems, Inc. to finish the work by 2011.
The town’s last revaluation was in 1995.
Properties in town were once accessed for taxation at 100 percent of their “true value.” But due to changes in the market value, some homeowners, mostly those with older properties, are paying taxes on only about 35 percent of the current market value of their property. Other, newer properties are paying taxes on a higher valuation, up to 70 percent of their market value.
Officers of the month
Police Officer Joseph Keselica and Special Police Officer Chad Smith were named officers of the month for August.
According to Public Safety Director Michael Caliguiro, on Aug. 28 Keselica noticed a man running in the middle of Bergenline Avenue kicking cars. When he blocked traffic to “assure” his safety, the man allegedly approached him aggressively, before falling to the ground while resisting arrest. Smith arrived as backup.
The officers had to use pepper spray to subdue the man, who allegedly admitted to smoking marijuana laced with PCP while in the police car.
Caliguiro commended their work.
Reorganizing accounts
After hiring John DiStefano as a probationary accountant in the town’s revenue and finance department three months ago, the council hired him permanently at the meeting, as well as naming him as the qualified purchasing agent.
Drasheff praised DiStefano for revamping their finances.
One of his suggestions was to set up separate dedicated funds for certain events and departments.
In separate resolutions, accounts for the Recreation Department, street openings after construction, law enforcement expenditures, the town’s 150th anniversary, Safe Kids Day, accessed forfeiture, fire prevention, and annual celebrations were set up.
“If people come in and they want to donate to something like Safe Kids Day, we want to make sure it goes to that event,” said Drasheff.
The funds for the $220,000 cost for the revaluation was also placed in an emergency appropriation account via resolution.
U.S. Census recognizes town
Geraldine Clark, a Guttenberg resident and U.S. Census representative, presented Drasheff and the town with plaques commending their help in completing an “accurate” 2010 census count.
“We all know how crowded and dense we are in town, hopefully that will be reflected” said Drasheff, who hoped more federal funding would come from the numbers.
Resolutions for street repair
The council approved four resolutions awarding contracts to 4-Clean-Up, Inc. for various emergency street repairs in town. Drasheff abstained because his nephew is a principal in the company, which is located in North Bergen.
The first job will repair a sewer at 71st Street and Park Avenue for $2,700; the second will repair a manhole at 70th Street and Hudson Avenue for $3,500; the third and fourth will fix two “depression” at 118 70th Street for $3,800 and $1,328 respectively.
Tattoo resolution
While Guttenberg has had one tattoo and piercing parlor, Body & Soul Tattoo, in town for years, they recently realized that they did not have an ordinance listing the general licensing for this sort of commercial business. At their meeting they passed an ordinance listing the general definitions, regulations and practices tattoo parlors must adhere to.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.