Online Meeting
This meeting was held online via ZOOM.us due to social distancing mandates resulting from Covid-19 virus outbreak. To access the May meeting of Thursday, May 7, 2020, at 8:00pm, the May borough bulletin posted on USRtoday.org will have the link, as will the Swift911 email including the May borough bulletin. You may sign up for the Swift 911 message alerts on the borough website, lower right-hand section.
2020 Borough Budget
The 2020 budget will be formally presented at the next borough council meeting on Thursday, May 7, 2020 at 8:00PM. You are encouraged to review the proposed 2020 budget online. The 2020 budget has been uploaded to the USRtoday.net website. It is posted under the left-hand column “Quick Links” and under the “Financial Documents” button, “2020 Introduced Budget.”
Emergency Temporary Appropriations
As permitted under NJS40A:4-46, local governments may make emergency appropriations, after adoption of the annual budget, for purposes unforeseen at the time of adoption.
Temporary budget appropriations in the amount of $3,618,425 were approved, with the largest amount $330,000 under the category of Police in the amount of $320,000 for salaries. When asked why the salary expense had gone up so greatly (10%) above the approved 2019 budget, Mayor Minichetti did not give an explanation and merely said that it was an appropriation that would be included in the final budget for 2020. Other large emergency temporary appropriations were $60,000 for Financial Administration, $60,000 for Other Insurance, $70,000 for Social Security and $47,000 for Solid Waste.
2020 Budget to Exceed Municipal Budget Cost of Living Allowance
The borough council approved the proposed 2020 Budget to exceed the NJ Municipal Budget Cost of Living Expense Allowance over the next two years by up to 3.5% or $352,451 over the prior year and is establishing a cap bank.
CFO Certification
Borough CFO James Mangin has certified the proposed 2020 Budget and the USR Council has found that the budget has met the necessary financial requirements so it has appointed the local finance board to assume the responsibilities of the Director of the Division of Local Government Services of conducting the annual budget examination.
By Rue Eisen