Posted on 22 Comments

Ridgewood Municipal Debt Continues to Rise

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Municipal bonds have become an unavoidable part of local governance

Ridgewood Councilmember Evan Weitz aka the Bond King

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, according to resident Steve Kim ,” Ridgewood Municipal debt level has risen at 6 pct percent per year since 2019. This is on top of the municipal tax increase of 4 to 5 percent year.
Let’s not forget the tax referendum on top of this. Also, the performing arts center, which likely will cost $10m+ to reno and $1m+ per year to operate.”

Kim continues, “Then consider Village Manager is counting all of Valley tax levy as revenue, even though it’s being contested in court…
General Municipal Debt
2019: $56.2 M
2020: $58.8 M
2021: $63.1 M
2022: $67.8 M
2023: $71.1 M
2024: $75.2 M”
Village of Ridgewood Councilmember Evan Weitz once stated, “no big deal, we’ll just bond it and apply for grants”

Municipal bonds have become an unavoidable part of local governance because they are the primary way state and local governments finance essential infrastructure like roads, schools, and hospitals, often due to balanced budget rules that limit how much can be spent in a single year. They are critical for funding large-scale projects and can help smooth out cash flow issues when tax revenues do not align with spending obligations.

  • Financing infrastructure: Municipal bonds are a key tool for funding a wide range of public projects, from roads, bridges, and public transit to water utilities and public safety facilities.
  • Meeting balanced budget rules: Most states have balanced budget requirements, meaning they cannot run a deficit. Bonds allow governments to borrow for major projects and spread the cost over many years, as the revenue to pay them back is generated over time.
  • Managing cash flow: Bond issuance helps governments manage the timing differences between when they collect revenue (like property taxes) and when they need to spend money on services and projects.
  • Enabling large-scale projects: Without municipal bonds, many critical projects that benefit communities would be impossible to finance, as governments often cannot raise enough funds through taxes alone in a single year.
  • Supporting essential public services: Beyond infrastructure, municipal bonds are also used to finance essential services, such as schools, hospitals, and affordable housing. 

 

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22 thoughts on “Ridgewood Municipal Debt Continues to Rise

  1. I’m certain KK has a chart somewhere telling us what a great job this council has done.

    1. And the council has a chart saying what a great job Kazmark is doing, especially in light of the scandalous wetlands cover up, because he needs to make sure a field gets built since his pal Vagianos made those promises to the sports leagues who voted them in.

    2. Can Mr. Kim add a line item for the Schedler remediation and lawsuits?

      1. Yes, especially since he seems has better insight into Ridgewoods finances than our highly paid village manager who only cares about the schedler turf field. Get a life, Keith and start doing your real job.

    3. Evan is a financial wizard with a keen understanding of the bond markets, the Bee-Man is a highly successful entrepreneur, Wino loves trees, Pam loves hats, and Pee-Wee ran a now-shuttered restaurant.

      Why are you people concerned?

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    4. He isn’t that bright then is he? Counting his ducks before they hatch?

  2. Free money!

  3. Weitz was one of the key people who said that the Kensington Assisted Living facility should go through and Mortimer too. Both ineffectual dolts who will end up costing Ridgewood more than just tax dollars. Such irresponsible governance!

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  4. Maybe free buses are coming our way!

    1. It’s early yet but I think we have our post of the day !

    2. And FREE parking and charging in the parking garage!

    3. Nah just more stupid comments

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    4. There is free 11 acres given away to a business at Healthbarn

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      1. Not free. She helped Vagianos funnel 4M in exchange.

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    5. Or Free Parking

  5. White elephants are not rare in this Village. It seems every new mayor has to show his or her economic ignorance regarding the dangers of increased fixed costs. And we Villagers do the same when voting for politician who want to make the zoo bigger.

  6. Easy fix – just add more affordable housing and massive luxury living facilities! Oh wait…

  7. Follow the money – find out who funded Weitz campaign and FOLLOW THE MONEY!!!

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    1. And someone really needs to find out where 4 million dollars of NJ tax dollars given to Healthbarn went. Photos of the check and Ramon Hache, our mayor and Stacy Antine. Where did it go? Who rec’d it?

  8. We ended up with a large bunch of grifters. Sad end to a fine town.

  9. Wasn’t evan white’s on the fourth of july committee thinking that a military flyover was a good idea? This is the same guy that thinks putting an assisted living facility in the worst possible location in ridgewood was also a good idea. Clearly, this person has zero common sense and doesn’t care.How much anything costs. Not only is the military flyover, dangerous a waste of money for a fourth of july parade, when at the same time, we are talking about keeping noise levels down, it is also reckless and so environmentally unsound, dumping hundreds of gallons of fossil fuel products over our heads. This is the ridgewood leadership that we voted for. Wow.

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  10. Snipe all you want. We are lucky to have The Bond King and his financial acumen guiding Ridgewood into the 21st century.

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