Paramus NJ Tax Payers Will See Increase in Taxes

PARAMUS NJ ­— Borough taxpayers will see increases of about $144 in their municipal tax bills next year, according to a preliminary budget approved Monday night by the council.

Chief Finance Officer Joseph Citro attributed the tax increases to several lines of rising costs, coupled with losses in traditional revenue he attributed to the weak economy.

The borough avoided layoffs or drastic cuts in municipal services by accepting a state offer to make half of the its 2009 pension payments in installments for 15 years — effectively a $1.6 million loan.

PARAMUS BUDGET

What’s new: Proposed 2009 budget: $54,073,246.08
What it means: The owner of a home assessed at $499,000, the borough average, will pay $2,476, compared with the $2,300 paid last year by the owner of a home assessed at the then-average of $493,000.
What’s in it: The Borough Council plans to maintain all municipal services, but is offsetting revenue losses and rising costs by cutting operating expenses in departmental budgets, putting off the purchase of new police cars and cutting most capital expenses. The borough will also accept a state offer to postpone making 50 percent of its pension payments.
What’s next: The first public hearing on the budget will be held April 28, at Borough Hall, 1 Jockish Square, at 7:45 p.m.

“We don’t plan on cutting back any services this year,” Citro said. “Next year, we will have to see what happens when the time comes.”

The pension deferral plan also rendered unnecessary an earlier proposal to ask all borough employees to take two weeks of unpaid leave.

The council did, however, shave about $4 million from the borough’s projected expenses. Those cuts included a 10 percent reduction in operating costs in every borough department and a reduction of about two-thirds in the capital budget — leaving only about $1 million for road repairs, Citro said. The borough also will postpone buying new police cars and filling most positions when employees leave.

The losses included about $300,000 decline in building permit fees as borough construction projects evaporated, a $174,000 cut in state aid and lost interest on borough investments, Citro said. Those expenses were coupled with rises in costs, such as salaries and wages, county dumping fees and the cost of gasoline and other utilities.

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Grand Opening of Bobby’s Burger Palace At Bergen Town Center, Paramus NJ

Bobby’s Burger Palace (BBP) presents an array of burgers inspired by Bobby’s extensive travels throughout America and love of the grill in a convenient casual setting.
The 74-seat BBP is a nod to a classic burger joint and Bobby’s tribute to America’s regional flavors and traditions. This is Bobby’s third BBP; the first outpost opened in July 2008 in Lake Grove, NY on Long Island; the second BBP opened in December 2008 in Eatontown, NJ.