Politics & Government

$62 Million Budget With No Tax Hike Adopted

Councilman Paul Carifi votes against municipal spending plan.

The Parsippany-Troy Hills Council passed the $62 million 2013 municipal budget — with a zero percent tax increase — by a 3-1 vote at a special meeting held on Tuesday.

With Councilman Michael DePierro absent, the vote fell to Councilmen Jonathan Nelson and Paul Carifi, both of whom voted against the introduction of the budget in May. Carifi again voted against the measure Tuesday, citing his previous issues concerning merit raises on top of 2 percent salary increases for township employees.

“As I voted for the introduction, I want to say for the record that I do not have a problem with anything in the budget as far as programs that were done by the mayor, as far as our services in town,” said Carifi. “I just have a problem with the way that merit raises were done in these economic times and for that reason I am voting 'no.'”

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The fate of the budget then fell onto the shoulders of Nelson, who ultimately voted in favor of the measure.

“I think of things as black and white, right and wrong, but this budget falls somewhere in that gray area,” he said. “I also have some serious problems with the merit raises.”

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Nelson also spoke about his opposition of using sewer surplus money to balance the budget, an idea that has been debated by the council in the past.

“I have also been very vocal about using the sewer surplus but the mayor has been very transparent about using the sewer surplus to balance the budget,” he continued. "I disagree with it but the $550,000 is not enough, along with the merit raises, for me to vote 'no.'”

Both Council Vice President Vincent Ferrara and Council President Brian Stanton voted in favor of the budget.

“It's a very well-thought out budget and a very good budget,” said Mayor James Barberio. “The merit increases and raises were due to the fact that some of the salaries were brought up to where they need to be. Those people work above and beyond. I'm a firm believer that if someone works hard they should be rewarded.”

The mayor also gave some budget highlights.

“We cut no services, we are hiring five new police officers and no tax increase this year,” he said. “I don't know how much better you can get.”


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