APRIL 23, 2015, 8:57 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015, 9:02 PM
BY TODD SOUTH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
HACKENSACK — Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco presented his budget to the freeholders Thursday afternoon, showing that a combination of mandated expenses and debt coming due would mean a $17 million increase to the tax levy.
For the owner of the average home in the county, assessed at $324,000, that translates to a property tax increase of $12.73.
Tedesco illustrated that figure as the cost of two foam-topped Starbuck’s specialty coffee drinks with extra expresso shots and caramel — drinks that he placed on the freeholders’ round table.
Under Tedesco’s $531 million spending plan, the total $387 million tax levy would mean the county portion of the tax bill on an average home would be $762.28, up 1.7 percent from 2014.
Fixed costs means rising contractual wages, pensions and healthcare premiums paid for by County taxpayers, not the beneficiaries of these health plans, in addition to millions in accumulated leave payouts for retirees and interest on the debt. The guy hasn’t made a single structural change to try to slow the growth in these fixed costs, not one. And he jokes about it with two 1000 calorie Starbucks drinks ?