BREAKING BUDGET NEWS:
"ZERO
Point ZERO"
Massa Administration to introduce "no tax" increase
municipal budget for 2008-09, homeowners get the break they deserve!
Tanelli: Our fiscal house is finally in order!
NORTH
ARLINGTON - Sources tell NA TODAY that the Massa Administration will introduce a "zero tax increase" municipal budget for the 2008-09 fiscal, a dramatic financial
turnaround from last year's 33% tax hike.
This year's
spending package will call for no increase in
the tax rate despite a $168,000 cut in municipal assistance, and without
factoring any need to apply for the state's Extraordinary Aid pool which
last year netted revenues of $500,000.
"This budget has no gimmicks. This budget does
not rely on outside revenue sources. This budget is fiscally responsible
and does exactly what the doctor ordered," observed Mayor Pete Massa,
who as a school trustee was the architect of
two, zero tax increase school budgets in 1990-91 & 1991-92.
Much of the
credit for constructing such a conservative spending package goes to Finance Chairman Al Granell, an IT executive
with United Parcel Service and first-term councilman.
"Last
year was a year of fiscal turmoil between EnCap, state aid, litigation and
collective bargaining challenges. This year we implemented disciplined expenditure practices while cutting spending we could
absorb. Basic services will remain intact and our budget will set aside dollars
in anticipation of the pending arbitration hearings with our police
personnel," noted Granell.
Council
President Steve Tanelli praised the governing body as a whole in putting good government practices before petty political
squabbles.
"This
is a budget we all can support. It's fiscally
conservative. It retains services while cutting spending. It was a process
that can be regarded as bipartisan and
transparent," said the Third Street homeowner and husband of three.
"It's
hard to argue with success. The Democrats responded to the will of the voters by getting spending under control and
providing a lift for homeowners. This is a "win-win" for all
concerned and Mayor Massa needs to take a bow for getting the job done.
Democrats will once again run on a record of fiscal conservatism and
defeat the EnCap Republicans," noted Democratic Party Chairman Nick Antonicello.
Will
Republicans Hughes and Bianchi, who
campaigned against last year's 33% spending increase support this zero
based document?
"How can anyone not support something this
financially responsible? This was the reason they were elected. If they
oppose this budget, they'll have some explaining to do to taxpayers who
demanded this kind of financial accountability in the budget process," said one Massa confidante upon hearing the good news.
"Getting
our financial house in order gives us the freedom to focus on the bigger issues like EnCap and redevelopment. I want to thank our professional staff for
thinking outside-the-box and delivering for the people of North
Arlington," said Tanelli.
With the
budget now behind them, the governing body can concentrate on the far larger
issue of development in the meadowlands.
"We
made a commitment to trim the size of government. That commitment has been
honored," said Granell.
"This
government is pro-active and prepared to move forward. Shared services, opening the lines of communication with our
colleagues at the county and state level while seeking ways to provide
services at the lowest available cost is what we're all about. Faster,
cheaper and better will be applied to the operation of local government as long
as Democrats maintain the majority here in North Arlington, noted Granell.
NA TODAY will
provide details of the budget in a future edition this weekend.
