WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange residents are paying a little more in property taxes than they did last year per the Essex County Board of Taxation’s recently issued 2016 Certification of Tax Rate, the document that sets the definitive legal tax rate for the township. The certification sets the 2016 tax rate at $3.89, […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange intends to expand its commuter jitney service to cover the Redwood and Pleasantdale sections of town in early 2017, according to Mayor Robert Parisi. Parisi said the township is committed to adding a sixth route that incorporates Pleasant Valley Way and Eagle Rock Avenue so that the surrounding areas […]
West Orange’s financial straits managed with strategic cuts, prioritizing and an eye on the future
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Township Council approved the $78,593,900.14 municipal budget for 2016 during its May 24 meeting by a vote of 4-1, with Councilman Joe Krakoviak being the sole vote against it. The budget increases the municipal tax levy to $51,933,857.13, which is $989,797.01 more than last year’s municipal levy of […]
Without extra funding, library is forced to cut part-time staff, services, materials, maybe hours
WEST ORANGE, NJ — After weeks of calling for the township to supply additional funding to no avail, the West Orange Public Library Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $2,200,096 budget featuring $83,000 in cuts to its materials and supplies budget as well as the layoffs of two part-time employees during its April 26 meeting. […]
Board of Ed passes $128.8 million budget, cuts only six positions despite original plans to cut 20
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Board of Education unanimously approved the proposed final budget for the 2016-17 school year, which increases taxes by 1.86 percent to make up for an approximately $3 million deficit but reduces fewer positions and classes than the preliminary budget did. According to the budget presentation made by Superintendent […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Township Council approved a one-year contract with a grant-writing firm at its April 5 meeting despite the fact that the company in question was not actually the lowest bidder to respond to the township’s Request For Proposal. The council voted 3-1-1 in favor of awarding Millennium Strategies LLC […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange Public Library employees and supporters took to the streets in objection to the Township Council’s decision not to provide additional funding for the library in this year’s municipal budget, holding an “informational picket” outside Town Hall during the council’s April 5 meeting. Led by staff representative Rene Garzon of […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — Many residents are expressing frustration over the fact that the West Orange’s $350 sewer bill is $100 more than last year’s due to a new charging structure implemented by the township, though Mayor Robert Parisi said community members would actually still be paying that amount in a different form had the […]
With budget shortfall and 2-percent tax cap, school district forced to make personnel, class cuts
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Board of Education unanimously approved the proposed 2016-2017 school year’s preliminary budget, which includes increasing taxes by 1.86 percent while also cutting 20 positions and two middle-school classes to make up for an approximately $3 million deficit, during its March 21 meeting. According to the budget presentation made […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Public Library has revived its years-dormant Friends of the Library organization to raise funds as the library faces the real possibility that the township will not be able to provide the additional $200,000 it is requesting for its operating budget. Several residents and WOPL employees gathered March 9 […]