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Politics & Government

Municipal Budget—Including Move of Sewer Utility Funds, $900K in Payouts—Unanimously Approved

Council passes $61.6M appropriations with no opposition from public.

The Parsippany-Troy Hills township council unanimously passed the municipal budget during a special meeting Tuesday night.

Although the public was given the chance to comment during the meeting—held before the township’s regular session—there were no dissenting opinions from those in attendance regarding Mayor James Barberio’s $61.6 million budget.

Council candidate Roy Messmer had previously taken exception to a portion of the budget that will move $700,000 from the $5.3 million sewer utility fund to reduce the municipal tax levy by 1.6 percent, as well as keep $3.6 million for surplus.

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Messmer had previously said , which currently has 254 signatures, asking for taxpayers to be credited for the surplus sewer fees. Although present at the meeting, Messmer did not comment during the public hearing and said afterward that he would wait to present the petition once he received 500 signatures.

Since the budget was approved Tuesday, Messmer said the petition will not have much of an impact this year.

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“But we’re going to put the council on notice that we’re not going to let this happen again next year,” Messmer said.

An ordinance to provide retirement payouts for public workers was also passed unanimously without comment upon its second and final reading during the meeting. As a result, $895,944 will be appropriated over four years to pay retiring police officers for unused sick and vacation time.

Barberio had previously stated that .

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