NORTH WILDWOOD ─ “All in all, you are well within the cap,” said Leon Costello, city auditor, during the City Council meeting Feb. 21 as the 2017, $29.2-million municipal budget was introduced.
If passed after a March 21 hearing at 10 a.m. in City Council chambers, the budget will require $18.3 million from taxes.
According to the budget, the city has $10.5 million in new ratables.
Key salary and wages in the budget (rounded for ease of understanding):
* Police, $3.5 million
* Fire, $1.3 million
* Lifeguards, $557,031
* Recreation Center, $384,673
As North Wildwood continues to improve infrastructure and begin other improvement projects, all eyes turn toward the necessities of finances and budgets.
According to Costello, North Wildwood “could spend more and still be legal” and congratulated council for the city’s surplus.
View the 66-page budget here.
The meeting was presided over by Councilwoman Kellyann Tolomeo in light of Council President Salvatore Zampirri’s absence.
The following special events were approved:
* St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be March 11.
* Greek Independence Day celebration will be March 25.
* “Fallen Hero Polar Plunge” will be Feb. 25.
A public hearing was held for the 2017 “Budget of Wildwoods Boardwalk Special Improvement District,” known as SID.
With no comment from residents or questions from council, the budget was adopted.
Under resolutions, council introduced North Wildwood’s budget, as explained by Costello.
“You are well under the cap (state-mandated 2-percent increase on spending),” by $1 million, Costello said.
According to Costello, the city’s fund balance “has improved” and possesses over $139,000 more than last year “in surplus.”
Costello also pointed out how the city could legally spend more and raise taxes and still be “legal.”
Also under resolutions, council authorized an advertisement for public bid in regards to public safety vehicles. According to City Clerk Scott Jett, the city applied for grants to obtain two 2017 Chevrolet Colorado’s at “little cost to the city.” Those are mid-size pickup trucks.
During council comments, Councilman Edwin Koehler said, “Since Patrick (Rosenello) is not here to expand on the budget, I will bore you with some historical facts about budgeting.”
Koehler described the system of budgeting in his childhood home, where he lived with his parents, grandfather, and an older sister. Before Christmas, two “cigar boxes” were placed on the table, one holding what cash was available for spending and the other for “wants.”
According to Koehler, each member of the family would say what they needed until the cigar box was empty.
Koehler praised the “cash basis” system and council concurred with his reminisces with smiles.
To contact Rachel Rogish, email rrogish@cmcherald.com.
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Do you think it's appropriate for BLM to call for "Burning down the city" and "Black Vigilantes" because…
