By Katherine Massopust —
PERTH AMBOY – Public hearing and adoption of the operating budget for the Perth Amboy Business Improvement District, Inc. (BID) for the new fiscal year (starting July 1st) was discussed.
City Attorney Mark Blunda stated, “For years the BID did not follow its own by-laws; this is going back to the prior administration. The Chairperson was appointed by the mayor – not elected by the Board.” This was questioned by one BID Board Member and found out that the BID should elect their own Chair.”
BID Chair Barry Rosengarten
During this election, the BID elected Barry Rosengarten as Chair and Enrique Hernandez as Vice-Chair.
Councilman Kenneth Gonzalez stated, “The Chair can appoint committee chairs and committee members.”
A question came up about how the BID budget is spent and what the allocations in the budget are utilized for.”
BID Chair Barry Rosengarten stated, “We’ll examine what our needs are. We do not have enough money to operate. There is an insufficiency through the tax levy.”
B.A. Greg Fehrenbach stated that although the tax levy which has been the same for approximately 10 years is approximately $230,000. The BID budget is approximately $320,000. The surplus money over the years will make up the difference for the BID budget.
Councilman Fernando Irizarry asked if the BID can change the allocations.
Councilman Kenneth Gonzalez said, “The BID is an independent non-profit agency.”
B.A. Fehrenbach answered, “The BID Board can change any one of the allocations. The fiscal year is July 1st to June 30th. The process should have taken place in May. The budget is determined on how much is collected from property taxes. It is the levy that you (the Council) are acting upon. The levy is on property value within the business district. If you don’t support the reallocations that they (the BID) make, it is within the authority of the Council to recognize the levy on property value within the business district.”
The Council approved the BID budget for 2013-1014 fiscal year.
Both Chair of the BID Barry Rosengarten and BID Member Virginia Lugo stated that there is a seminar explaining the purpose and function of the BID at the Barge Restaurant, 201 Front St., Perth Amboy on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 6 p.m.
