Council to Vote on 2011 Borough Budget with 3.13% Tax Levy Increase

One of the first orders of business at the Chatham Borough Council meeting Monday night will be to vote on the adoption of the 2011 borough municipal budget.

According to presentations by Tammie Kopin, the borough's chief financial officer, on and , the municipal budget totals $13,606,140 and a tax levy increase of $229,978 over the 2010 levy of $7,343,862, for a total increase of 3.13 percent. The total budget increased by 3.66 percent over 2010.

The 2011 budget includes more than $122,000 in cuts by various departments, which the council asked and mandatory increases in pensions, debt services, salaries and contributions to the Madison/Chatham Joint Meeting of more than $489,000, which make up 3.5 of the 3.66 percent increase from last year.

Kopin said on March 14 that the borough had exemptions from the state that would have allowed them to raise the tax levy up to 6.19 percent. By not raising the tax levy by the full amount allowable, the borough can place those funds aside in a bank cap and draw on it within the next three years if necessary.

School Budget

Superintendent Jim O'Neill will also be present at the council meeting to make a presentation on the 2011-12 school budget. Borough residents pay 62.25 percent of their tax dollars to the district and 21.17 percent to the municipality and the library.

The presentation comes two days before residents will vote on the school budget and Board of Education members on Wednesday.

Other Council Business

The council will also appoint Timothy R. Caggiano as a probationary firefighter to the Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department, assigned to Engine Co. No. 1, and will appoint Andrew J. Hollander to the Library Board of Trustees with a term expiring on Dec. 31, 2012.

John Bitar will apply to the council for permission to hold this year's Green Fair at Reasoner Park on Sept. 24. The Green Fair will earn points toward the municipality's Sustainable Jersey Silver level certification, and residents can help the borough earn more points by taking the Green Pledge at the fair.

Membership fees for the Chatham Borough Municipal Pool will also be set by resolution at the council meeting. According to the agenda, family fees for the summer will be $375, senior citizen fees will be $50 for residents and $75 for non-residents, and individual fees will be $100 for residents and $150 for nonresidents.

The council will also vote to create a Chatham Lacrosse Club outside of the umbrella of the Joint Recreation Department, and will set fees for the sewer service for 2011.