For some bizarre reason, this meeting officially began at 6 PM, instead of the usual 6:30 PM.
I casually strolled in and took my time getting my camera set up, thinking it was just the usual pre-meeting conference, when it was actually the regular business meeting in progress. My apologies for not realizing there was apparently a time change.
Even more oddly, only ten minutes into the meeting, and the discussion about the introduced 2015-16 municipal budget was already long over. Two residents told me after the meeting that no discussion of the budget took place at all, just the vote by the Council.
I don’t know what that was all about.
Thankfully, Vincent Frantantoni took the initiative to get up and ask what the expected tax increase would be for Belleville residents in the introduced budget.
Interim Town Manager Kevin Esposito replied that the increase is expected to be $234 for a home assessed at $238,000. He also said that the Council would be trying to make cuts to perhaps be able to lower this figure.
Between this municipal tax increase, and the guaranteed increase from the school district thanks to the Board of Destruction and their financial shenanigans which came to a head last year, Belleville residents are in for a hard punch in the gut come tax season.
Seriously, when is enough enough?
Update: Here is NorthJersey.com’s coverage of the meeting:
Belleville council introduces 2015 budget
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