Latest on the Tenafly budget

1. Dear Editor,<br />The Tenafly Council passed a 7.6% property tax increase this past month in one of the largest increases to date. The majority of Democrats voted against this questionable increase. The list of cost savings ideas we offered were never addressed. The Council and municipal officials rejected the option of reconsidering the budget with the goal of uncovering $600k in budget cuts (less than the 2% municipal tax impact). It is clear to us that a 7.6% increase while in the depths of one of the worst recessions makes no sense.<br />Why was it approved? Some on the governing body wanted to lock in the highest possible tax rate in the base to protect Tenafly from the impact before Gov. Christiey’s arbitrary new CAP on Borough expenditures takes effect in 2011. Others who voted for the increase are opting to increase taxes rather than face complaints from members of the community.<br />We believe budget reductions don’t need to be painful. A good example is the Finance Department where the Council reduced total head count, improving the delivery of services without any change in quality. Another example is the decision to share a Registrar with Cresskill. <br />In another case, the Environmental Commission recommended an end to grass pick-up to save on landfill resources. The Council discussed this potential service, but took no action.<br />If cuts are delayed, we will need twice as many cuts in the last two quarters of 2011 to meet the new State CAP requirements..... The fabric of Tenafly is at risk -- potentially requiring irresponsible cuts to programs and critical services.<br />The time has come to look at sharing certain services in new ways, to find ways to protect Tenafly from the cuts that will be required by the new State mandated CAP.<br />Signed,<br />Joe McDermott<br />Michael Lattif<br />Nadia LaMastra<br />