Press Releases

Jersey City, NJ — Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise announced his recommendation for Secaucus from the 2007 Hudson County Open Space Trust — a whopping $3.1 million to go toward the acquisition of waterfront open space. The grant recommendation is the second largest county-wide and comprises nearly half the total allocation for open space from the Trust this year. It is 100 percent of what the town requested from the Trust for open space acquisition.


Secaucus will also get $50,000 for the construction of a gazebo forthe Children's Reading Garden at the Secaucus Public Library under the Administration's list of recommendations, being finalized this week and submitted to the Board of Chosen Freeholders by County Executive DeGise.


"Secaucus's application to the Trust was outstanding," said County Executive DeGise. "It combined an excellent opportunity for us to open more of the Hackensack waterfront to the public with the town's commitment to continue seeking ways to link properties along that
waterfront that shows outstanding vision by Mayor Elwell's administration."


The waterfront parcels, near Secaucus High School at the north end of Oak Lane near Farm Road, will add over two acres to the Hackensack River Walk. The River Walk is is envisioned by county and municipal planners to be an uninterrupted stretch of walkways, greenways andparklands between Secaucus and Bayonne.


The DeGise Administration reviewed applications through its Open Space Trust Advisory Committee comprised of citizens and professionals. The recommendations from that review now go before the Board of Chosen Freeholders for final approval.


Secaucus returned a past allocation from the Open Space Trust for acquisition after a deal fell through to acquire land know in town as the "Petrillo Site." Those dollars were part of the $6.9 million available for acquisition this year.


The Hudson County Open Space Trust is funded by a one cent per hundred dollars of assessed value levy on County property owners. It averages out to approximately $25 per property owner per year. The Trust was created by referendum put on the ballot by County Executive DeGise with the support of the Board of Chosen Freeholders and leading
environmentalists, including New York/ New Jersey Baykeeper and the Hackensack Riverkeeper. In 2007 in raised approximately $5.8 million of which 50 percent is spent on open space acquisition, and the rest, by law, is spent on park improvements and historic preservation. Townsand non-governmental organizations with the support of their local
municipalities are eligible to apply for funding through the Trust. 
   

 

Mayor Dennis Elwell and the
Town Council would like to Announce:
Free Shuttle Bus Service

For Students to and from Secaucus High
School and Middle School

Starting September 6th, 2007

The Shuttle service will begin at 7:10am at 10th Street & Centre Avenue, which stops along Centre Avenue to Humboldt Street to Plaza Center, North on Paterson Plank Road to school complex.  (Last pickup Paterson Plank Road & 1st Street)

The return trip starts at dismissal time with the final stop at 10th Street and Centre Avenue.

 

COUNCIL INTRODUCES

TOWN BUDGET
 

Spending kept below inflation despite state mandates

SECAUCUS -The Town Council introduced a 2007 budget today that limits spending to less than the rate of inflation despite significant increases in state-mandated costs.

 

The budget totals $40.06 million, an increase of just 3.35 percent or less than the rate of inflation for the metropolitan area.

 

The budget includes additional required payments of $600,000 to cover contracts, $430,000 in increased pension costs; $440,000 in additional health insurance costs; and $165,000 more that the town has to pay for the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission.

 

The budget will represent an average increase in property taxes of less than $8 a month for a typical Secaucus homeowner - a total of $95 for the year.

 

The slight increase comes after eight consecutive years with no increase in the municipal tax rate.

 

"We've done the best we can to fight increasing costs from Trenton ," Mayor Dennis Elwell said. "We've kept the increase to the barest minimum needed to meet state requirements."

 

The budget also includes the costs of hiring three new police officers and restructuring the Town Police force, Mayor Elwell said.

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