Friday, August 01, 2003
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North Arlington Property Taxes, A two-year comparison:

North Arlington - Here's a two-year comparison of North Arlington's property tax rate.
 
Total spending to be raised by taxes is $26,830,167. That's 7% more than 2002. Municipal spending for 2003 is $9,501,917. That's $1,094,996 more than last year's levy or 12%.
 
While municipal taxes are either flat or decreasing in East Rutherford, Carlstadt and Lyndhurst, North Arlington by far has the highest municipal tax increase for the second straight year.
 

The Borough Council has been controlled by the Republicans for twenty-two consecutive years. Mayor Russ Pitman and Councilman Jim Ferriero oppose this year's double-digit tax increase.

  2002 2003   DIFFERENCE
OPEN SPACE LEVY: 49,251 50,166 +915
LOCAL SCHOOL LEVY: 14,291,415 15,185,244 +893,829
COUNTY LEVY: 2,152,414 2,092,839 -59,575
MUNICIPAL LEVY: 8,406,921  9,501,917 +1,094,996
Total Tax Levy: $24,900,001 $26,830,167 +1,930,166
                                             
The single largest portion of the property tax levy is a direct result of the deficit financing schemes of the GOP controlled Borough Council. Even though total municipal spending slightly decreased, the tax levy is soaring out-of-control because of the squandering of host fees. While Republicans deny the charge, the numbers confirm the Democrat's allegation to be true.
 
Here are the new tax rates:
 
Open Space Rate: .005 .006 +.001
School Tax Rate: 1.799 1.906 +.107
County Tax Rate: .271 .263 -.008
Municipal Tax Rate: 1.065  1.193 +.128
Total Tax Rate: 3.140 3.368 +.228
 
 54% of this year's increase in the total tax levy is from the municipal budget controlled by Republicans (5-1).
 
The school board (5-0), also controlled by local Republicans account for 43% of this year's total tax rate increase.
 
Democrats control county government 5-2 and reduced the county tax rate by 3%.
 
Overall history of North Arlington's tax rate history and cost per household: