|
|
Teaneck Small Business Assistance Call Today at 4pm
//Category: Teaneck
//
Letter from NJ Dept of Health to Community Religious Leaders Regarding Upcoming Holidays
//April 3 COVID-19 Update from Dr. Irving
//April 3, 2020
Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Staff,
The last three weeks have been challenging, exhausting, and extremely informative. This describes what I have heard from many parents, and how our staff – including me – have described our current reality. The good news is that a well-deserved spring break is upon us and when we “return”, we will begin a very different educational approach using Google Classroom.
In my last communication to you, I mentioned that beginning Monday, April 13, we will move to a virtual learning platform with specific class/subject schedules Monday – Thursday. Fridays will be used as a review or testing day. However, next week is also an important week because there will be some informational sessions and opportunities for you to get prepared for our new virtual learning schedule. All of the information that you will need will be posted on our COVID-19 Update section of our website (a green button on the left hand side of the homepage – https://www.teaneckschools.org/COVID-19.aspx). Please bookmark this page as it will become a very important resource for you as we move forward.
Here is our go-forward plan:
A Tale of Two Charts
//First caveat: I created the first chart (based on numbers I received from the manager), so errors are possible despite my efforts to be accurate.
Second caveat: we do not have good data sets because testing is not yet available for widespread use. The charts below are based on those tested after showing symptoms.
The data below are the same in each chart.
The first chart shows the number of cases reported as presumptive positive in Teaneck. Despite all of our efforts, cases will continue to rise.
But — the second chart shows the rate at which those presumptive positives are doubling. The second chart is on a “log vertical scale”, which provides equal intervals for doubling effects (i.e. the space between 5 to 10 is equal to the space between 50 to 100). The second chart also contains two exponential fits for the data sets.
What the graph shows
They started to double within a predicted time-frame of 2.09 days. That appears to have slowed to 5.7 days (thus far) through self-isolation measures.
Teaneck’s Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin called for self isolating ourselves on March 14th. Look at what started to happen on the chart between 3/14 and 3/21.
Bottom line: Self isolation and washing our hands WORKS.
This will provide our healthcare system time to #FlattenTheCurve…. but only if we keep it up.
[Audio] Teaneck Community Interfaith Prayer Call
//Several hundred residents joined the Teaneck Community Interfaith Prayer Call today
Hosted by: Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin, Deputy Mayor Mark Schwartz & Deputy Mayor Elie Y. Katz
“During These Challenging Times, We Can All Use Some Strengthening of Our Spiritual Health”
Opening Remarks by: Mayor Mohammed Hemeduddin & Deputy Mayor Mark Schwartz
- Rabbi Joel Pitkowsky, Congregation Beth Sholom
- Rev Greg Jackson, Pastor Mt. Olive Baptist Church
- Pastor Jusung Kim, Good News Church
- Reverend Dr. Keith Attles, Covenant Life Ministries Church
- Imam Sayeed Quereshi, Darul-Islah Mosque
- Father Joseph D’Amico, Church of Anastasia
Closing Remarks by:
- Congressman Josh Gottheimer
There will be another call next Sunday at 3pm.
Tedesco: County to Open COVID-19 Drive-Thru Test Site for Bergen County First Responders and Health Care Professionals on Sunday
//For Immediate Release:
March 28, 2020
Contact:
Michael Pagan
201.336.6972
Tedesco: County to Open COVID-19 Drive-Thru Test Site for Bergen County First Responders and Health Care Professionals on Sunday
Hackensack, N.J. — Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco has announced that on Sunday, March 29th, at 12:30 p.m., the County will open a mobile, drive-thru COVID-19 test site for symptomatic first responders and health care professionals who live or work in Bergen County only. The drive-thru test site will be located at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center at 230 East Ridgewood Avenue in Paramus, N.J.
Only symptomatic first responders and health care professionals who live or work in Bergen County will be tested at this drive-thru test site and must provide accredited identification.
To be tested for COVID-19 at the drive-thru site, first responders and health care professionals must be screened by first completing a brief survey located at https://www.newbridgehealth.org and seeing a Telehealth doctor. Patients will then be given a confirmation code number that they will present at the drive-thru testing site.
“Bergen County first responders and health care professionals who are symptomatic should please take advantage of our mobile, drive-thru test site at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center,” said County Executive Tedesco. “These are the men and women on the front lines who are working to keep our 1 million residents safe from COVID-19. The sooner we help our first responders and health care professionals recover, the more people they will be able to treat.”
More information is available at: https://www.newbridgehealth.org and at https://co.bergen.nj.us/
Mar 24, 2020 Township Council Meeting Update
//Please click below to hear the audio portion of last night’s Township Council Meeting from:
- Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin
- Manager Dean Kazinci
- Heath Officer Ken Katter
What does a “Zero-Budget” mean?
//A Sixth Straight ZERO
At last night’s Teaneck Council meeting, the Council voted to introduce a SIXTH straight budget with a 0% tax levy increase on the Municipal side of the tax bill. At a time when many Teaneck residents are struggling with financial uncertainty, Teaneck’s Council remains mindful of its residents’ needs. Without a reduction of ANY municipal services, we will even will be paving more roads (including Windsor Rd).
The 0% tax levy was the result of proper management, and was made possible, in large part by Council’s use of smart development, which maintains the quality of life Teaneck expects.
But, my taxes went up!
I get it – mine went up too. But the tax bill you receive has a few different parts and not all of them have been going up.
So, let’s break down what is happening.
Breaking down your bill
The tax bill each home receives has a few parts. Here is an example for the average Teaneck home:
The average residential assessment for 2019 was $384,308.15.
- Municipal portion: $4,039.08
- Board of Education Portion: $6,979.04
*** Click here to see how the bill breaks down in each category ***:
The tax bill for the average assessment breaks down as follows (approx):
| Board of Education | 56.8% | $6,979.04 | |
| Municipal | 32.87% | $4,039.08 | |
| Municipal Open Space | .31% | $38.43 | |
| County | 8.48% | $1,041.48 | |
| County Open Space | .31% | $38.43 | |
| Library | 1.22% | $149.88 |
Municipal and BOE Portions
- The municipal portion of the tax bill is controlled by the Township Council and the Board of Education portion is controlled by the School Board.
Here is what the Township (municipal) and BOE budgets have looked like over the last have decade+:
What could it have been without a Zero-Budget?
Municipalities are constrained to operate within a possible increase of 3.5% over the previous year’s tax levy. (see NJSA 40A:4-45.14 Permissible increase in appropriations)
What would tax rates look like if Teaneck increased them on the municipal side instead of fighting for a zero?
The chart below shows what the budget levy has been for each year in the graph above. The “Cap Bank” represents what we could have increased the levy by, had we gone to the full 3.5%.
Each of the links goes to the Ordinance that shows the amount in the “cap bank”.
By remaining at a ZERO budget levy increase, the Township Council has kept the municipal portion of your tax bill flat. Note: Others portions of your bill may have increased, however.
| Year | Budget | Cap Bank | Link |
| 2020 | $54,012,908 | $2,067,879 | 11-2020 |
| 2019 | $53,591,618 | $2,022,909 | 15-2019 |
| 2018 | $53,004,585 | $2,025,023 | 7-2018 |
| 2017 | $53,032,800 | $1,946,929 | 9-2017 |
| 2016 | $53,056,956 | $1,972,735 | 8-2016 |
| 2015 | $53,302,262 | $1,949,474 | 18-2015 |
| 2014 | $53,286,843 | $1,916,714 | 24-2014 |
| Totals | $13,901,664 |
The Average Homeowner:
For the Average assessed home in Teaneck, this would have meant an additional $1,047 in municipal taxes per year.
Instead, the Township Council introduced a 6th straight year of ZERO-PERCENT tax levy increases for 2020.
Related: Bonding
In addition to the yearly tax bill, the Township also issues debt for road, building or other capital expenditures. To see how we have been doing with regards to controlling our debt levels, you can click below and see where we stand, as well as a comparison to other towns around us.
Mayor Hameeduddin on MSNBC regarding COVID-19 in Teaneck
//Mayor: U.S. is going through ‘three pearl harbor attacks at the same time.’
Mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey, Mohammed Hameeduddin on the surge of coronavirus cases in the state.
Tax Appeal Deadlines Extended
//The deadline for filing of Tax Appeals has been extended at least 30 days to May 1st (or 30 days after the State of Emergency has ended, whichever is later).
You can click below to read the order:
