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Ogdensburg avoids tax hike in 2012

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By JESSICA MASULLI REYES

jmasulli@njherald.com

OGDENSBURG — Homeowners in the borough will see no municipal tax increase in 2012, but this doesn't mean that services and salaries are being cut, according to Mayor Steve Ciasullo.

Instead, the zero percent increase comes at the same time as more money is being allotted to road and water infrastructure improvements, raises for all borough employees, parks and grounds improvements, and aid for the Fire Department and First Aid Squad.

"We are doing a lot more, and at a zero percent increase, which is not something you typically see," Ciasullo said.

The council is scheduled to adopt this $2.755 million budget at its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, April 9.

Ciasullo explained that the council was committed to finding savings through contract renegotiations and by analyzing each line item of the budget. For example, a new two-year garbage contract saved the borough $160,000 and contract negotiations for a police officer and the police chief saved the borough $60,000, according to Ciasullo.

"The council and I did a lot of work over the last year," Ciasullo said. "We were able to start to realize some savings from last year and this year."

Ogdensburg has not seen a 0 percent municipal tax increase in at least five years, according to Ciasullo. Since a re-evaluation in 2008, the tax rate has gone up steadily. In 2009, the municipal tax rate was 78 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, but by 2011 it was about 91 cents. The municipal tax rate will stay the same for 2012.

For the average home in Ogdensburg, which is $268,209, the municipal taxes will be $2,429.97. County and school taxes will be added onto this.

Ciasullo explained that even when there was a 0 percent increase in the past, it may have been at the expense of services in the borough. He said that it is far more effective when there is no tax increase and services can still remain or even improve.

This year's budget also has added to the surplus fund, which can act as a safety net for the borough.

In 2009, the surplus was $296,000, but by 2011, the surplus had grown to more than $325,000. The borough used $19,000 less from the surplus this year than last year toward the budget.

"That shows you the direction we are trying to head in," Ciasullo said. "We used less of the surplus (to offset) taxes this year."

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E-WASTE MANAGEMENT

 

 

AS OF JANUARY 1, 2011 WASTE MANAGEMENT CAN NO LONGER PICK UP THE FOLLOWING ELECTRONIC ITEMS, CALLED “COVERED ELECTRONICS”, DUE TO THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS’ NEW REGULATION UNDER THE NEW JERSEY ELECTRONIC WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT (N.J.A.C. 7:26a-13), EFFECTIVE 1-1-11, WHICH BANS LAND FILLING OF CERTAIN ELECTRONICS AS SOLID WASTE.

 

TELEVISIONS

DESKTOP OR PERSONAL COMPUTERS

MONITORS

PORTABLE LAPTOP COMPUTERS

 

CAN NO LONGER BE PLACED AT THE CURB FOR PICK-UP

 

MANUFACTURERES AND RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS THAT SELL “COVERED ELECTRONICS” ARE NOW REQUIRED TO DEVELOP E-WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOR COMSUMERS TO RETURN THE “COVERED ELECTRONICS” TO THEM.  PLEASE CHECK DIRECTLY WITH THESE BUSINESSES FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL COLLECTION/RECYCLING PLANS.

 

THE SUSSEX COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AUTHORITY (SCMUA) WILL CONTINUE TO RECYCLE ALL TYPES (BOTH “COVERED” AND “NON-COVERED” ELECTRONICS. AT THE RESIDENT’S CONVENIENCE CENTER WHERE THE STAFF WILL SEGREGATE THE MATERIALS.

 

SCMUA  SPONSOR’S  FREE E-WASTE DAY’S TO SUSSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS THE NEXT ONE BEING IN THE FALL OF 2011

CALL SCMUA AT 973-579-6998 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

 

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RAIN WASHES PET WASTE INTO STORM DRAINS WHICH FLOWS DIRECTLY INTO OUR STREAMS, LAKES, RIVERS AND THE OCEAN. PET WASTE CONTAINS COLIFORM BACTERIA AND OTHER POLLUTANTS THAT CAN MAKE PEOPLE SICK. BACTERIA FROM PET WASTE CAN ALSO POLLUTE YOUR DRINKING WATER, AS WELL AS KILL FISH, WILDLIFE AND PLANTS.

 

PET WASTE IS NOT ONLY A HEALTH HAZARD BUT ALSO A NUISANCE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

 

USE NEWSPAPER, PLASTIC BAGS, OR A POOPER SCOOPER TO PICK UP THE WASTE WHEN YOU WALK YOUR PET.

 

PROPERLY DISPOSE OF PET WASTE INTO THE TRASH OR TOILET. (DO NOT DISPOSE OF NEWSPAPER OR PLASTIC BAGS IN THE TOILET).

 

DO NOT DISPOSE OF PET WASTE IN STORM DRAINS.

 

 

STORM WATER POLLUTION IS ONE OF THE GREATEST THREATS TO NEW JERSEY’S CLEAN WATER SUPPLY.

 

DID YOU KNOW THAT MORE THAN 60 PERCENT OF WATER POLLUTION COMES FROM THINGS LIKE MOTOR OIL, FERTILIZERS, DETERGENTS AND PET WASTE?

 

BY SHARING THE RESPONSIBILITY, AND MAKING SMALL EASY CHANGES WE CAN KEEP COMMON POLLUTANTS OUT OF STORMWATER