East Orange, NJ, August 29, 2019: Building upon his administration’s agenda for progress, Mayor Ted R. Green announced highlights from the FY 2019 Municipal Operating Budget, which included increasing property values, keeping the city clean, enhancing public safety, fixing streets, investing in city youth, providing high quality affordable housing and redevelopment, and committing to health awareness.
“As your Mayor, I want to assure you that we are spending your tax dollars wisely and with transparency,” said Mayor Green. “This budget embraces a comprehensive plan with sound fiscal decision-making that will strengthen the city’s bottom line and move us toward our common goal – progress.”
The 2019 budget of $152.3 million includes a slight increase in the municipal tax rate to keep pace with the annual cost of living. The annual tax increase was reduced by 25% from $80 to $59 per year, which means the average homeowner will pay less than $5 more each month.
Highlights of the FY 2019 Budget:
- Increasing assessed values of city properties by $5.8 million.
- Taking an aggressive and proactive approach to cleaning up East Orange with the addition of the city’s own fleet of street sweepers and routine Mayor on the Block quality of life walks.
- Decreasing violent crime and overall crime an additional 21% and 6% (YTD), respectively.
- Hiring 42 more officers for a total of 77 new officers since January 2018.
- Using $1 million in municipal aid from the New Jersey Department of Transportation for paving and making ADA-compliant some of our most worn streets and curbs, including South Burnet Street, Eaton Place, North 18th Street and soon Tremont Avenue.
- Reviving the East Orange Safe Haven Police Athletic League Boxing Program and the East Orange Public Safety Explorers Program to provide mentoring and enrichment programs for East Orange youth.
- Expanding summer work employment for students ages 14-21 nearly 33%, by hiring 419 high school and college students in 2019 compared to last year’s 315.
- Planning more than $1 billion in redevelopment with 2,026 residential units currently approved for construction – 35% of which will be affordable housing located on prime real estate including Brick Church Plaza and 20/30 Evergreen Place.
- Delivering a signature development project, The Crossings at Brick Church Station, which will include a new and expanded ShopRite, over 800 residential units, nearly 200 affordable units, and 200,000 square feet of commercial space.
- Executing funds, from a $1.6 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant to help protect children and families from lead-based paint and home health hazards.
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