Paramus – A letter from Mayor Richard LaBarbiera was sent to all residents early this summer, following up three years of no increased property taxes with a decrease this year, indicating that the 2014 tax rate is lower than 2010’s. The letter credits sound financial management as well as improvements to waste management facilities with modernized equipment such as those to create leaf mulch and woodchips, with creating significant savings.
The tax decrease also is also reported not to have come at the expense of other belt-tightening. The city has spent money on the police force, replaced outdated fire vehicles and apparatus, and established new offices to assist residents with quality-of-life issues and veteran’s affairs. A new senior citizen’s center is planned as is a complete renovation of the public library’s interior. The volunteer rescue squad building is also set to be improved, as are continued improvements to the municipal pool and golf course.
The finance departments have also improved their managerial control of the town’s finances. “These and other efficiencies have resulted in the Paramus home owner’s average assessment being significantly reduced in 2014,” wrote LaBarbiera.
Moody’s Bond rating services has recognized the borough’s financial stability by increasing the town’s rating to AAI status.
“We have already seen the impact with our taxes falling a few hundred dollars,” said Will Yagoda, a Paramus resident who is a member of the Congregation Beth Tefillah, one of the borough’s two orthodox synagogues along with Congregation K’hal Adath Jeshurun, which houses a state-of-the-art mikvah.
Yagoda mentioned that while many of the town’s improvements are infrastructure-related, which will benefit all residents, the Jewish community has been working with the town on several items which are coming to fruition, such as a countdown timer at the busy intersection of Forest and Midland, which many residents need to traverse on Shabbos.
In the last six weeks, two new young couples have moved to Paramus and a number of others are actively searching for houses. “It’s pretty exciting to see the influx of young families in town over the last two years,” said Yagoda. “To accommodate the new children, we are completely renovating our kids play area, anticipate adding a playground and have revamped youth groups,” he said.
“While the impact of a tax decrease is impressive, it speaks to the financial stability of our town, which offers first rate amenities to its residents without nickel and diming them. In addition to substantially lower taxes, Paramus also offers free garbage and busing for local students. As always, we welcome people to check us out for a Shabbos by emailing [email protected].”
By Elizabeth Kratz
