Gloucester City: $300,000 in State Aid will help reduce tax rate

Blank

By Bill Cleary

The City of Gloucester City is one of seven communities in the immediate area to receive extraordinary aid from the New Jersey State Property Relief Act. The City received $300,000. The state notified the city earlier this month.

This year’s 2008-2009 proposed budget totals $16,439,000 or $613,313 more than last year\’s budget of $15,825,687. Under the proposed plan introduced in April the local purpose tax was to increase by 41 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. At that time taxes were to rise to $287 on an average home assessed at $70,000.

According to the advertised budget in the April 10 issue of the Gloucester City News, the City employs 105 fulltime workers and 74 part-time. The number of employees was the same in 2007.

Councilman Nick Marchese, Finance Chairman, was asked what effect the $300,000 would have on the taxes.

His prepared statement reads, \”The initial tax increase that was submitted to the state showed an increase of approximately 41 cents per $100 of assessed value of a property. We are very happy to get the second highest amount of extraordinary aid in the County, $300,000. That will directly reduce taxes .09 cents leaving a new current increase of .32 cents per hundred of assessed valuation.

\”The budget is not totally completed and could still see some substantial changes in the next coming weeks.

\”The City also has to contend with changes in the new CAP laws and trying to keep the City under the CAP as directed by the State. There are State limits imposed on the amount of tax increase and expenditure increases that is allowed. We have confirmed that many other communities have already submitted to the local finance board, over the CAP numbers into six figures. The State has imposed some unobtainable goals for communities of which many cannot achieve.

\”We feel as though Gloucester City is doing its best to cut spending and increase income to the City while conforming as much as possible and doing what is expected of us by the State. We will give you more information as it unfolds.\”

Related: April\’s Budget Story

Related: City of Gloucester City

This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.

Gloucester City News Headlines for July 31

Floating docks for schooner, charter boat, major upgrades for Freedom Pier, the former Coast Guard pier

Bellmawr Resident Addresses Council about motorists speeding, ignoring stop signs

Mayor James announces new policies so the City can save on energy costs

Brooklawn Council honors retiring Patrolman Raymond A. McIntyre

Early Morning Fire Damages Gloucester City homes on Powell Street

This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.

Letters: Goodbye to a Great Guy

Gloucester City lost one of its proudest adopted sons on June 29, 2008. Frank Banas, former high school teacher and football coach has passed away.

If you were lucky enough to have been a student or player of his, you have got to be a better person for that relationship.

Frank loved the City of Gloucester, the High School and the thousands of students and players that he befriended.

Frank was a throwback, a meat and potatoes kind of guy, who you loved immediately and he retuned the favor.

There was no bravado in Frank, he was solid, honest, sincere and one hellava friend. Gloucester has sadly lost one of its good guys.

Steve Shimkus, Gloucester City

This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.

Gus L. Wilson, 54, of National Park

Link: NJ.com.

Augustus L. \”Gus\” Wilson Augustus \”Gus\” L. Wilson, of National Park, NJ, passed away on July 24, 2008; Aged 54 years.

Gus was a caring, giving man who was a wonderful listener. He was a true people person and enjoyed reading, swimming and tending to his garden.

Born in Camden, NJ, Gus was a longtime resident of National Park and was very active in St. Matthew’s RC Church. He taught CCD classes and was active in the annual carnival for the church. He was also an officer for the Knights of Columbus Council of St. Matthews RC Church. Gus was a teacher for over 20 years and spent the last 6 years as a teacher for the Bridgeton Public School system.

Beloved son of Joseph J. and Marion (nee Hartley) Wilson. Gus is survived by many brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Relatives and friends are invited to the Memorial Mass on Tuesday, 1:00 PM at St. Matthew’s RC Church, 4th and Monument Avenue, National Park, NJ 08063.

If desired, contributions may be made to St. Matthews RC Church at the above address.

Arrangements by McGUINNESS FUNERAL HOME, Woodbury, NJ.

This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.

Bellmawr Landfill Project: Dredging and Short Update

Link: Mark Matthews\’ Blog

Development:

In the article, Gallub says buildings will start going up in Bellmawr by the end of the year and the project was progressing nicely.

Also from the Inquirer article: \”The first phase in Bellmawr, along Big Timber Creek, is expected to be completed in 2010. Gallub said it would include 600,000 square feet of retail and commercial space – a large retailer, a multiplex cinema, four hotels, four restaurants, and a regional visitors center\”.

Updated site plans:
A few months back, the development website http://www.bellmawrwaterfront.com/ updated their website to include new images of the project plans.

While some of the Bass fishing sites for the area are skeptical because there is nothing officially listed om the Bass Pro Shops Corporate Web site… the BellmawrWaterfront images CLEARLY show Bass Pro Shops is coming to town. click link above to read more

This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.