Mayor's September 2023 Letter

September 18, 2023

Dear Fellow Taxpayer,

Happy Fall!  A quick update on happenings in Chester Borough.

The Chester Borough municipal budget increased 1.75%, yet the tax rate decreased from .872 to .870 from 2022 to 2023 due to the increase in property values. The Borough is the collection agency for the Library Tax, Chester School District Tax, West Morris Regional High School District Tax, Local Open Space Tax and Morris County Tax. The chart below provides a glimpse of the approved budgets for each of these entities.

The Library Tax is a state mandate 1/3 of a mil tax on the total value of all properties in a municipality. Since the overall value of the properties in the Borough increased year over, the Library budget increased significantly.

The value of homes in the Borough, based on the selling price of property in the Borough in 2022, increased from $404,197,900 in 2021 to $429,887,200 in 2022 resulting in a 6.35% year over year increase in total property value.

The Borough participates in the State Employee Healthcare Benefits. For 2023, healthcare premiums increase 22% and additionally, the Borough’s share of employees’ pension increased by 19%. Those two increases represent the bulk of the tax increase.

A quick recap of the past year:

• The redesign of the intersection of Main St., Budd Ave., Grove Street and Hillside Rd. was completed in May. The convergence of these five main arteries, most of which date back to the late 1700s, no longer worked for the traffic patterns of 2023. The intersection is now safer for pedestrians and has resulted in a quicker clearing the traffic turning on to and off of Main St. The total cost of the project was $352,010. The Borough had received a grant from the NJDOT for the project of $291,700 resulting in a taxpayer contribution of $60,310.
• In keeping with the goal of the Mayor and Council to make the Borough pedestrian friendly, the County approved a request by the Borough to reduce the speed limit on Main St. to 25 mph from Collis Lane to Route 206.
• The Borough applied for and was awarded a grant of $43,000 from the NJ Highlands for a study of the Main St. Historic District by an urban planning/landscape architect firm. Residents will have an opportunity to learn more about this study and to provide feedback regarding Main St. over the next couple of months. Keep an eye out for notices regarding this exciting study.
• The Borough received a grant from the NJDOT towards the repaving of Hillside Road. While the bid will be awarded to a contractor in October, the work is expected to be completed in the Spring. Hillside Road residents will be receiving information regarding this project in the mail, and updates will be provided on the Borough website and on social media.
• The sewer project has yet to receive the go ahead from the NJDEP to begin the project. All required studies have been submitted. Updates will be provided when received.
• Have you ever wondered how to find out about Borough ordinances or read the Mayor and Council meeting agendas, meeting minutes, resolutions, and new ordinances of the Borough? All this information is posted on the Chester Borough E-Code site. It is accessible via the webpage or at: https://ecode360.com/CH1917. 

Many thanks to the Borough employees. There are three full-time administrative employees and seven part-time administrative employees and currently, there are three full-time Department of Public Works employees and one part-time DPW employee. There is an opening in the DPW that should be filled soon. This group is dedicated to being responsive to both residents and commercial property owners and the Mayor and Council appreciate all their efforts in ensuring that the Borough is in compliance with the rules and regulations of the state, county and Chester Borough.

On behalf of the Council and myself, it is an honor and a privilege to serve you, the taxpayer. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us with questions or concerns. We appreciate hearing from you!

Regards,

Janet Hoven
Mayor
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