North Bergen’s Board of Commissioners has voted unanimously to adopt the 2022 calendar year budget.The budget already had state approval.

At the May 11 meeting, Township Administrator Janet Castro gave a budget presentation. According to Castro, the township is doing “fairly well” all things considered.

“We have a fairly stable budget this year,” Castro said.

The 2022 budget totals $106,036,919. This is a $4,669,007 or 4.6 percent increase from the $101,367,912 budget in 2021, which was the first year the budget topped $100 million.

The tax levy will be raised by $68,659,987, this is just shy of the $70,896,726 maximum that is allowed. In total the tax levy in the 2022 budget is $2,236,739.

The appropriations in the budget total $76,645,570, below the $78,490,239 maximum that is allowed. The remaining $1,844,669 under is available for the 2023 budget appropriations.

The number of township employees has risen to 557. This is an increase from 545 in 2021 and 540 in 2020.

Revenues recovering, but still down due to COVID-19

Revenues have been down the past two years, with a revenue loss of $1,821,100 in 2020 and a much smaller $298,636 loss in 2021. However, actual revenues only dipped from $99,729,655 in 2019, to $97,987,995 in 2020. By 2021, actual revenues were back up to $101,069,276.

“On the revenue side, we are still being impacted by COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, but less of an impact in 2021,” Castro said. “That was primarily the hotel tax and municipal court losses. Those were big contributors to that revenue loss.”

Mayor Nicholas Sacco noted that nobody was traveling and staying in hotels, and that police weren’t giving as many tickets amid the stay-at-home order. Castro confirmed this, noting: “We were at a standstill.”

North Bergen continues to maintain a “steady and effective” tax collection rate, Castro said. This year, the township hit 98.89 percent of taxes collected, the highest-ever in its history.

“That’s a pretty historic number,” Castro said. “Best-ever in the history of North Bergen.”

Revenues from payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreements continue to increase, up to a total of $4,557,000 in the 2022 budget from $4,193,630 in 2021. Since 2016, the PILOT revenues have increased by $1,886,000 or 71 percent, from $2,671,000 to the now $4,557,000.

The township is also no longer reliant on debt issuance for tax appeals. The total budget appropriations for tax appeals is down to $290,000, a decrease of $400,000 or 58 percent from $690,000 in 2021. And that is a decrease of $870,000 or 75 percent from $1,160,000 in 2017.

Surplus up, Moody’s rating remains the same, and property taxes down

The year end surplus balance from 2021 was $17,187,945. This is an increase from the $12,866,281 at the end of 2020, which only slightly decreased form the surplus of $13,584,027 in 2019.

The township holds a Moody’s Analytics Rating is at Aa2, the highest possible rating according to Castro. This rating led to a successful bond and note sale even amid inflation rates of 7.5 to 8 percent.

“We had a successful bond and note sale with ten bidders and competitive interest,” Castro said.

The local property tax levy has increased to $71,200,000 for 2022, up from $70,087,260 in 2021.

However, the local tax rate has decreased from 27.31 to 7.28 percent, due to the 2022 property tax revaluation in North Bergen. After the math, that is akin to a 7.43 percent decrease, which translates to the average homeowner seeing a decrease in property taxes by $280.

“With the reval, some will go up though,” Sacco said, noting some residents would see an increase in payment as a result of the revaluation of their property. Castro agreed, noted that the $280 was the average decrease and that some residents would actually receive an increase.

State aid remains flat, according to Castro, which Sacco called “discouraging.” The township hasn’t seen an increase in 16 years. In fact, prior to it remaining the same since 2011, state aid had decreased each year leading up to that since 2006. The decrease in state aid from $13,713,330 in 2006 to $7,185,597 in 2022 is akin to a 47.6 decrease.

Departmental highlights

Castro also highlighted programs across different township departments that were also funded by the budget.

In terms of programs being operated by Public Affairs, COVID-19 testing and vaccination centers are still available.

“The state has renewed their grants to continue with the vaccination center over at 92nd and Kennedy with that medical facility,” Castro said, touting the partnership.

The NB C.A.R.E.S. relief center is complete and in operation. North Bergen’s Senior Program is included as well, this year featuring a bingo luncheon program, free movie program, free medical transportation, mall shopping trips, and Yankee game trips, among others. The Summer Health and Green Fair family festival was also highlighted during the budget presentation.

“The family festival is returning after a three year hiatus,” Castro said. “That’s going to be in June.”

Over at Parks and Recreation, highlights include the new community center and library facility which officials anticipate will be completed this summer, as well as plans to renovate 46th Street Park which are underway.

“We had a whole lot of challenges we’ve endured, like supply chain issues, but we’re expecting August,” Castro said of when construction will complete on the new community center and library.

Other department initiatives

Additionally, the municipal pool is set to open for the summer, adhering to COVID-19 guidelines, as well as the Summer Fun program and drive-in movies, on top of many other events.

In terms of programs operated under Public Works, up to 20 various streets will be paved, the Graffiti Removal Squad is active with full gear and enhanced equipment. Pothole crews have also been back in action since April; to report a pothole, call the hotline at 201-440-7263.

For the Public Safety Department, the budget supports a full complement of 146 sworn officers. In terms of new initiatives, CCTV cameras are going to be installed in various township parks, and the township will also retrofit a U.S. military-donated trailer to become a mobile command center.

The township’s fleet saw upgrades to the tune of a new EMS ambulance, three marked police vehicles, one street sweeper for the DPW, and two pick-up trucks for the maintenance of parks.

“I think we’re doing fairly well,” Castro said.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected]. 

More than a decade after a hit-and-run in North Bergen killed beloved bodybuilder Omar Monroig, his family is still searching for closure.

On March 23, 2012, Omar was struck by an early 2000s Toyota Camry as he crossed 51st Street and Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen on his way to grab drinks at a local Cuban restaurant with a friend. While severely injured, at times the 42-year-old seemed like he was going to pull through and his family hoped he would.

In an interview with the Hudson Reporter, Omar’s brother Jorge said he survived longer than most people would have. Following the accident, Omar had broken bones in his neck, two broken legs, a broken shoulder, and internal bleeding.

“Omar was a bull who wanted to live,” Jorge said. “It took him eight days to succumb to the injuries. Most people don’t survive that long.”

However, Omar ultimately died due to his injuries days later on April 1, 2012. His killer, the driver of the car that night, remains on the loose.

10-year cold case

While there was traffic camera footage of the fatal hit-and-run, it was low quality due to how dark it was in the area; only the vehicle could be identified, not the license plate. The family was able to attain the video through a private investigator who sent it to be enhanced in Alabama. However, the facility returned it free of charge since there was nothing that could be done to stop the pixels from breaking down further. This means it was unable to be enhanced, and that Jorge and the family were back at square one.

In March of 2017, five years after the fatal hit-and-run that took the life of Omar, the statute of limitations for the vehicular manslaughter charges in the case expired, the North Bergen Police Department confirmed to the Hudson Reporter at the time. However, Jorge said he wanted to learn more about the statute of limitations for the case and reached out to an attorney for more information.

Regardless, Jorge and the family has been urging the driver of the vehicle or anyone with any information on who that may be to come forward. He said the case remains unsolved, although the family remains hopeful that can one day get closure.

“We’re hoping that someday, someone comes forward because we want those answers that we never got night,” Jorge said. “When Omar passed away, we didn’t know why this person didn’t stop. It left a lot of unanswered questions. We want someday to find out who this person is. And we also want to shed some light on Omar’s story.”

‘A heart bigger than his biceps’

According to Jorge, Omar was very near and dear to those around him.

“Omar was my best friend,” Jorge said. “I didn’t know it at the time because we were brothers, but he really was my best friend. He’s an amazing person. I think of him it more all the time. I miss Omar. He used to love celebrating birthdays.”

It was just days after Omar’s 42nd birthday, on March 21, 2012, that he would lose his life. He was actually on his way to celebrate with a friend on March 23 when he was struck by the hit-and-run driver.

And it wasn’t just his birthday that he enjoyed. Omar was fond of celebrating others’ birthdays, such as Jorge, in similar fashion.

“Omar loved celebrating birthdays, that was a highlight and something we always enjoyed,” Jorge said. “I loved having dinner with him, breaking bread. Birthdays with him wouldn’t be just one day, it would be a week almost.”

Jorge and the rest of Omar’s family have certainly not forgotten about him.

“We think of him often,” Jorge said. “We have many portraits of Omar.”

According to Jorge, many people have sent positive information and messages to the family since everything happened. Omar left behind his wife Marybell and their son, Nick. According to Jorge, Nick stills lives and works in Butler where they lived.

“Nick is a chip off the old block,” Jorge said. “He’s also working as an volunteer firefighter and an EMT.”

Up-and-coming bodybuilder

In addition to his love for his family and general kind nature, Omar was also known as an up-and-coming semi-professional bodybuilder.

Jorge said what had started as a passion and grew exponentially from there. Prior to that, he was a successful contractor for a cell site company building towers.

“It started out as a hobby,” Jorge said. “He was just good at it.”

Omar was addicted to working out, exercising six times a week, twice a day. Jorge said he did cardio in the day and weightlifting at night.

What may have started as hobby, soon put Omar on a path to going pro. The Bloomfield Plaza Fitness gym he frequented sponsored him as a bodybuilder.

Omar, age 42, was just weeks away from the Garden State Classic Championships, which was later held in his honor. The 5’11, 256 pound strongman was a professional body builder with a number of titles and trophies in tow from various national bodybuilding competition, though Omar was not one to brag.

“Omar was one of the favorites,” Jorge said. “Muscle Maker Grill wanted Omar to come by and take pictures. He was one of the favorites for that event.”

According to Jorge, Omar’s soft nature and large stature made him something of “gentle giant.” This made it all the more bitter that the driver who hit him kept going, according to Jorge.

“I want this person to be ashamed of what he did that night, because it left a lot of unanswered questions,” Jorge said. “We want to know who this person was that was driving. We want to know why this person didn’t stop that night. We were stunned that he didn’t stop that night to help Omar. To drive off like that just made the wound deeper. “

Still searching for the driver

There are still no leads in the cold case, more than a decade later. The North Bergen Police Department recently dedicated a social media remembering Omar on the 10 year anniversary of his death, also sharing a sketch of the alleged driver that night.

While the case was an impetus for the township to upgrade its cameras to better suit low lighting, Jorge is still seeking the driver come forward. He also wants knowledge of Omar’s case to be shared to hopefully prevent any similar tragedies in the future.

“I know the township of North Bergen improved their system, but the person should have stopped as well too,” Jorge said.

Jorge and his family are not giving up on finding who was behind this, no matter how much time has passed: “We still want to know who did this regardless of the time frame. We want to shed some light on what happened ten years ago. And if it could help change some things where they have better lighting or cameras, like in the township of North Bergen, or other places that have similar, that would be good.”

He continued: “We are disappointed what happened to Omar was never solved.”

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected]. 

North Bergen has introduced its 2022 calendar year budget.

The North Bergen Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to do so at its April 6 meeting. The approximately $106,036,919.07 budget is roughly $6 million more than the budget adopted for 2021. It will likely be up for a public hearing and vote at its May 11 meeting. 

Anticipated revenue

This year, the Surplus in the budget is up to $5,440,000 from $4,400,000 from in 2021. This is a difference of $1,040,000 or a 23.64 percent increase.

Local Revenue has slightly increased to $9,731,545.82 from $9,597,166.10 in 2021. This is a difference of $134,379.72 or a 1.4 percent increase.

State Aid is the same, at $7,185,597. And Uniform Construction Code Fees are down to $2,000,000 from $2,257,040 in 2021. This is a difference of $257,040 or an 11.39 percent decrease.

Public and Private Revenue is down to $880,634.07, from $1,390,695.34 in 2021. This is a difference of $510,061 or a 36.68 percent decrease.

Special Items of Revenue increased to $7,999,142.18 from $3,593,848.01 in 2021. This is a difference of $4,405,294.17 or a 122.58 percent increase.

Receipts from Delinquent Taxes decreased to $1,600,000 from $1,897,485.75 in 2021. This is a difference of $297,485.75 or a 15.68 decrease.

The Local Tax for Municipal Purposes is $68,659,987.45 up from $68,437,694.52 in 2021. This is a difference of $222,292.93 or a .32 percent increase.

The Minimum Library Tax has increased to $2,540,012.55 from $2,309,748.94 in 2021. This is a difference of $230,263.61 or a 9.97 percent increase.

This culminates in an increase in anticipated revenues to $106,036,919.07 from $101,068,275.66 in realized revenue in 2021. This is a difference of $4,967,643.41 or a 4.92 percent.

Anticipated appropriations

$7,817,435 is appropriated for General Government, with $6,999,570 coming from the General Budget and $817,865 coming from public and private offsets. This is up from $6,945,691.15 in 2021, a difference of $871,743.85 or a 12.55 percent.

$281,410 is appropriated for Land-Use Administration, up from $267,030 in 2021. That’s a difference of $14,380 or a 5.39 percent increase.

$891,410 is appropriated for Uniform Construction Code, up from $828,395 in 2021. That marks a difference of $63,015 or a 7.61 percent increase.

$19,608,500 is appropriated for Insurance, up from $17,445,711.88 in 2021. This is a difference of $2,162,788.12 or a 12.40 percent increase.

$19,594,101 is appropriated for Public Safety, up from $19,055,830.57 in 2021. An additional $84,361.07 in public and private offsets brings it to $19,678,462.07. That’s a difference of $622,631.50 or a 3.27 percent increase.

$6,040,955 is appropriated for Public Works, down from $6,105,159.16 in 2021. That marks a difference of $64,204.16 or a 1.05 percent decrease.

$782,555 is appropriated for Health and Human Services, down from $1,468,828 in 2021. This is a difference of $686,273 or a 46.72 percent decrease.

$4,134,205 is appropriated for Parks and Recreation, up from $4,028,195.15 in 2021. That’s a difference of $106,009.85 or a 2.63 percent increase.

$2,540,013 is appropriated for Education, including Library, up from $2,335,800 in 2021. That marks a difference of $204,213 or a 8.74 percent increase.

Appropriations continued

$2,600,000 is appropriated for Utilities and Bulk Purchases, up from $2,575,000 in 2021. This is a difference of $25,000 or a a .97 percent increase.

$7,637,000 is appropriated for Landfill and Solid Waste Disposal, up from $7,299,076 in 2021. That’s a difference of $337,924 or a 4.63 percent increase.

$25,000 is appropriated for Contingency. That remains stagnant from 2021.

$7,479,046 is appropriated for Statutory Expenditures, up from $6,980,506.02 in 2021. That marks a difference of $498,539.98 or a 7.14 percent.

$15,635,000 is appropriated for Shared Services, up from $15,402,498 in 2021. This is a difference of $232,502 or a 1.51 percent increase.

$993,015 is appropriated for Court and Public Defender, up from $944,662.43 in 2021. That’s a difference of $48,352.57 or a 5.12 percent increase.

$200,000 is appropriated for Capital, down from $500,000 in 2021. That marks a difference of $300,000 or a 60 percent decrease.

$7,256,500 is appropriated for Debt, up from $6,734,169.50 in 2021. This is a difference of $522,330.50 or a 7.76 percent increase.

$740,000 is appropriated for Deferred Charges, up from $180,000 in 2021. That’s a difference of $560,000 or a 311.11 percent increase.

$1,696,413 is appropriated for Reserve for Uncollected Taxes, which is down from $2,246,358.90 in 2021. That marks a difference of $549,945.90 or 24.48 percent.

Upcoming hearing soon

In total, anticipated appropriations equal $106,036,919.07, up from $101,367,911.76 in 2021. This is a difference of $4,669,007.31 or 4.61 percent increase.

At the April meeting when the budget was introduced, Chief Financial Officer Robert Pittfield said: “The local tax amount that has to be raised to support this budget is going up about $1.1 million or in effect 1.59 percent.”

The board will meet on May 11 at 11 a.m. in the municipal chambers in Town Hall at 4233 Kennedy Boulevard. For more information, go to northbergen.org.

Read the introduced budget online at https://www.northbergen.org/_Content/pdf/budgets/CY-2022-Introduced-Budget.pdf.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].