A Letter from Mayor Calabrese

I am excited to have the Cliffside Park Democratic Committee take on this endeavor for the second year in a row.  Keeping in touch with the public is such an important aspect of serving as Mayor.  Years ago people had time to come to council meetings, stop in at borough hall, or jot off a letter.  Life is so different today.  I am amazed at technology and the way it has simplified people’s lives.  I personally am not too adept at this cyber information, but I do realize it is an important part of everyday life.  I hope you will utilize the site to keep up-to-date on things happening in Cliffside Park as well as on Democratic Party information.

I am happy to announce that for municipal purposes our tax rate was unchanged.  The county and the Board of Education increased taxes so there is a rise on your tax bill.  Unfortunately we also were stuck with a state mandated “rounding up” increase.  The increase from the county and school board did not come out to a whole percent so the state forces the municipal body to increase the rate so that a whole number can be obtained.  It is a ridiculous solution but one we must oblige.  The reality is that whatever contractual obligations forced us to increase the budget were offset by tax ratables from new construction and improvements to homes.

It is difficult to find ways to control tax increases.  We are fortunate that our department heads really know how to watch their spending.  They look for grant monies to fund projects or equipment. Sometimes emergencies happen and that can place a strain on our budget.  That is why finding new sources of revenue is so important.

Our new Towne Center will help us achieve that goal.  It will provide new revenue because we have added the old DPW property to the tax roll, as well as metered parking that will be available to all shoppers of the Avenue.  This will help us plan for future generations and give us some breathing space in our budget.  It will also provide us with the center, the heart of our town.  While bringing in new retail shops there will be a piazza-like area where we envision entertainment and socializing to take place.

I know we keep talking about Anderson Avenue, but you should also know that we are working on Walker Street as well.  New construction there will provide affordable new housing stock and beautify the area as well.

There are lots of things happening and I hope you will find them to your satisfaction. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Have a safe, healthy, and wonderful summer!

Sincerely,

Gerald A. Calabrese 

Mayor