Ogdensburg introduces 2024 municipal budget and a cap-bank ordinance; public hearings set in May

The Ogdensburg Mayor and Council introduced the Borough’s 2024 municipal budget and moved to introduce an ordinance to establish a tax-cap bank during the April 22 meeting.

Councilman DeMeo moved to introduce Ordinance 08-2024, which would permit the borough to exceed municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a cap bank under N.J.S.A. 40A:4-45.14; a public hearing on that ordinance is scheduled for May 13, 2024. The motion passed on roll call with Councilmembers Ciasullo, Cowdrick, DeMeo, Poyer and Ruitenberg voting yes; Alvarez was absent.

The council also adopted Resolution 38-2024 to introduce the calendar-year 2024 municipal budget and set a final public hearing for May 28, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. The resolution in the meeting record sets total general appropriations at $3,535,171.76, anticipated revenues at $858,063.73 and an amount to be raised by taxes of $2,677,108.03. The Water Fund shows appropriations and anticipated revenues of $442,175.00 each.

CFO Mike Marceau explained the statutory timing: a public hearing must be held at least 28 days after introduction. He also reported that the borough remains under its appropriation and levy caps and that the overall annual increase on the municipal side is $39,667.53 (1.5 percent), about $45.18 for the average household.

Both the ordinance introduction and the budget introduction passed on unanimous roll-call votes among members present (5–0; Alvarez absent). The budget will be advertised as required and return to council for the May 28 public hearing and final vote.