A public hearing on the $101 million 2010-2011 Union City budget will be held this Tuesday. The proposed budget, which will result in a 3 percent increase in the municipal tax rate, covers spending from this past July 1 through next June 30.
After the public comments, the Board of Commissioners can take a final vote on the spending plan. It was introduced at a public meeting on Oct. 18. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 3715 Palisade Ave.
Residents’ quarterly tax bills include an overall tax amount that comes from three budgets – the municipal budget that will be voted on Tuesday, the school budget, and the county budget. The latter two are usually decided in late spring.
“Responsible spending has become very fashionable in the past year.” – Mark Albiez
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The tax rate will increase by 3 percent, and the tax levy – the dollar amount to be raised from taxpayers to support the budget – has increased by 3.5 percent, according to city spokesman Mark Albiez, who said the city has worked hard to keep increases as small as possible. Albiez was unable to provide the specific tax rate or tax levy.
Budget breakdown
Much of the budget has been allocated to public safety, including the Police Department and the regional fire squad. Generally, salaries and benefits make up most of that amount.
“Any increase in the budget is related to cost drivers outside the control of the city,” said Albiez, referring to North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue, the unit that provides fire protection and medical assistance to Union City, Weehawken, West New York, North Bergen, and Guttenberg – a geographic district of about 10 miles with roughly 195,000 residents.
Each of those towns is required to give several million dollars per year to the NHRFR’s budget.
“Anything under the control of the city has been reduced to ensure that any tax increase is as small as possible,” Albiez stressed.
In this vein, the city has reduced its employee payroll by $2.4 million. According to Albiez, after employees retire, the city tries to replace them with part-time employees.
“I’d venture to say that [Union City] is one of the few municipalities that has reduced the payroll so significantly,” Albiez said.
In relation to other local municipalities, Albiez said, “our increase is significantly less.”
Practicing fiscal responsibility
“Responsible spending has become very fashionable in the past year,” Albiez said, alluding to the fiscal responsibility advocated by Gov. Christopher Christie.
In a Nov. 15 press release from the mayor’s office, Mayor Brian Stack urged statewide support for Gov. Christie’s “toolkit,” the 33-bill reform package presented by Christie to the legislature May 10.
Gov. Christie’s “toolkit” proposes a 2.5 percent cap on the increase of property taxes as well as on state government operations, and recommends reform in the areas of civil service, collective bargaining, employee pensions and benefits, red tape and unfunded mandates, election reform, and shared services.
In the press release, Stack said, “In my roles as state senator and mayor of a relatively large city, I have a unique perspective on the challenges that municipalities face during the budget season and on a daily basis. After careful review of the governor’s initiatives, it is my contention that the passage of this legislative package is critical to the responsible operation of our municipalities. Such measures are practical, affording mayors the means to effectively govern.”
“We’ve been doing this in Union City for 10 years,” Albiez said. “A product of that effort has been stable taxes for residents.”
At the meeting Tuesday, residents are encouraged to ask questions and express any concerns. If residents wish to contact the city before the meeting, Albiez said the mayor is “completely accessible” and that residents, as always, can call him on his cell phone.
To confirm the date and time of the budget hearing before attending, residents can contact the city clerk at (201) 348-5731.
Deanna Cullen can be reached at dcullen@hudsonreporter.com.