GR municipal taxes to increase by 2 percent

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — The Glen Ridge Borough Council unanimously passed the 2020 budget on April 27, approving a 2 percent tax increase in the $15,712,285.40 budget. Revenue from taxes will bring in $11,615,593.51.

These taxes represent only the municipal portion. Residents also pay taxes to the county and to the school district, which takes the lion’s share.

Glen Ridge shares services with Montclair and Bloomfield. Fire department services from Montclair will cost Glen Ridge $903,739, and animal control and health services from Bloomfield will cost $35,000.

The largest expense in the budget is salaries for the police department at $2,565,100. Other expenses for the Glen Ridge Police Department will cost $213,473. Salaries for crossing guards, which fall under the public safety budget, will cost $159,422. Aid to volunteer ambulance companies will cost $12,000.

In general government, administrative and executive wages will cost $250,000 while other expenses are listed at $78,000. Financial administration salaries will cost $5,304; other expenses will cost $100,000, and audit services are listed at $48,000.

The public works budget is also large. For streets and road maintenance, $390,000 is set aside. There is $90,000 in the budget for storms and $17,000 for sewer maintenance. The Shade Tree Commission will be getting $117,000; $1,200,000 is set aside for solid waste collection. Buildings and grounds maintenance will cost $132,599.

In the recreation department, salaries will cost $233,000, and other expenses will cost $67,000. The park maintenance budget is listed as $400,000, while the management of Hurrell Field will cost $147,041.06. Jitney operations, which are part of the recreation department, will cost Glen Ridge $126,575.

On the revenue side of the budget, Glen Ridge will be making $95,000 in fees and permits. The municipal court will bring in $93,000. Parking meters will bring in $85,000. The Mountainside Hospital sewer fee will bring Glen Ridge $10,500. Two different payments in lieu of taxes from redevelopment projects in town will bring in a combined $90,014. Jitney fees will bring in $39,000.

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