Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The Montclair Council's Financial Committee wants to reduce the tax levy from the originally proposed increase of 2.4 percent to 1.9 percent.
The Montclair Council has taken steps to reinvest in township libraries, schooling and homeless services in 2013, all while decreasing the tax levy. The council’s Financial Committee unveiled a new commitment to funding services that have been reduced in recent years at a special budget meeting on Tuesday. The committee nixed more $180,000 in other areas to not only fund these local services, but reduce the municipal tax levy increase from 2.4 percent to 1.9 percent, according to township estimates. “This is good news; this is good stuff,” said Councilwoman Robin Schlager after hearing about the increased funding of community services. The committee — comprised of Mayor Robert Jackson, and Councilors William Hurlock and Renee …
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Aging garbage trucks and Public Works Department equipment and an expected $800,000 investment in new parking meters were highlights in the 2013 budget.
The final round of departmental budget hearings were heard Tuesday by the Township Council for this year's $77.8 million municipal budget. Presenting budget requests that night were Montclair Parking Utility, departments of public works and finance, the offices of the township attorney, and municipal clerk and township manager. In addition, the Health Department presented its $1.8 million budget request. The 2013 budget is up $2.25 million or 3 percent from 2012. The municipal tax levy will rise 2.4 percent this year or $1.25 million. Parking Utility The newly created Montclair Parking Utility will request $3.1 million in 2013. The utility, which took over for the Montclair Parking Authority at the start of the year, is expected to …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Incumbent Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex) will face off against challenger Mark Alexander in the 34th District Democratic Primary on June 4.
Fundraising totals are in for the two candidates seeking the Democratic Party nod in June’s 34th District state Senate primary. Incumbent Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex) has raised $135,542 since the start of 2013, and has $149,550 on hand. Challenger Mark Alexander is reporting he has raised $69,165 since the start of the year, for a total of $105,847 on hand. In one of the most hotly contested Senate races in the state, Alexander looks to unseat Gill, who has served in the Senate since 2002 and in the Assembly for four terms. The two will face off in the Democratic Primary on June 4. The official fundraising totals will be released by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission on April 22. The 34th District includes Montclair, Clifton, …
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Mark Alexander is challenging state Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex) in 34th District Democratic Primary on June 4.
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Thursday, April 11
Bishop Dr. Reginald T. Jackson announced his endorsement of Mark Alexander this week in the 34th District Democratic Primary on June 4. Jackson is the 132nd elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Executive Director of the Black Ministers’ Council, representing more than 600 African American churches in New Jersey. He is a civil rights leader who fought to end racial profiling by the New Jersey State Police and is a driving force in reforming urban and first-ring suburban school districts. “I am endorsing Mark Alexander for the New Jersey State Senate because we need energized, independent leaders who can fight for our children and make our State a more fair and just place,” said Jackson in a press …
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The Montclair Public Library requests $3,048,749 for 2013, still about $800,000 less than its 2008 budget.
The Montclair Public Library called for an increase of $165,000 to its 2013 budget as administrators and volunteers take on growing circulation and attendance. The increase would bring the library’s operating budget to $3,048,749, which is about $800,000 less than the library’s budget in 2008. After managing increasing attendance with less staff and more volunteers, Director David Hinkley said the added funding is necessary to establish a “stable fiscal base” for the fifth largest municipal library in the state. “Despite resulted hours, staffing and material reductions, 2012 use-statistics and volunteer hours demonstrate there is a substantial embedded demand and direct community support for library services in Montclair,” said Hinkley…
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Driving costs up in the proposed 2013 budget are police and fire salaries and paying for the cleanup of Hurricane Sandy.
Montclair taxes will increase in 2013. The municipal tax levy will rise 2.4 percent this year, or $1.25 million, according to a preliminary budget presented by Township Manager Marc Dashield at Tuesday's council meeting. This means the average home assessed at approximately $505,600 can expect to pay about $5,315 in municipal taxes, which is an increase of $94 from last year. The 2013 overall proposed budget is $77.8 million, which is up $2.25 million or 3 percent from 2012. Dashield said Montclair’s fiscal health is moving in the “right direction” as it reduces debt and increases its surplus. This council is aggressively tackling township debt, which has been reduced from $221 million in 2011 to an expected $205 million by the end of …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
If your New Year's resolution is to live a greener lifestyle, check out these 20 tips to help you stick to your plan.
If you want to be kinder to the planet and save some money at the same time, here are 20 ways to go green in 2013. TELL US: Do you think you could stick to a green New Year's resolution? Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments sections below.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Is your New Year's resolution to de-stress already stressing you out? Here are some tips to help you unwind.
2013 will bring lots of New Year's resolutions, and the stress of keeping them up along with it. Dr. Megan Hood, a clinical psychologist with an expertise in stress management at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center, said trying to attain a more stress-free existence is a pretty popular goal around the holidays and the new year. But staying away from stress is not as simple as making a New Year’s Eve wish. “That tends to be a common goal, a nice broad goal,” Hood said. “But it also tends to be challenging.” Still, Hood has some tips to keep stress at bay.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
If your New Year’s resolution is to get your finances in order, these guidelines will help you get started.
In this economy—and especially during this time of year—many of us are facing our very own fiscal cliff. While we may not be able to raise revenue as easily as the federal government can, these five steps may help you reach solvency and put savings in the bank, financial planners say. Click here to search for financial services in Montclair's directory listings. Once you’re free of debt and ready to grow your savings, you can look to financial services companies for investment advice, including banks (Bank of America, Wells Fargo and others), insurers (State Farm, Allianz and others) and brokers (Edward Jones, for example). Good luck!
frank rubacky
11:42 pm on Friday, May 3, 2013
Thank you Jeff. That would explain most of it. more ›