Officials waiting for budget figures

Manville Borough is asking for $1.2 million in extraordinary aid from the state.

By: Audrey Levine
   Despite the approval of the $33.47 billion state budget June 28, Manville is waiting to find out how much money, if any, it will be awarded in extraordinary aid, which is given to municipalities dealing with unusual hardships.
   "In our case, the hardship was the loss of revenue due to the Superfund cleanup," said Mayor Angelo Corradino.
   Mayor Corradino said the borough originally applied for $1 million in aid after its budget was introduced in early March, prior to the nor’easter April 16. After the storm, the aid request for the state was increased to $1.2 million.
   "Once we find out the amount we are getting if we are getting any extraordinary aid, we can then adopt a budget," he said. "Until that time, we have to continue working on a temporary budget."
   The aid is normally announced about three to four weeks after the adoption of the state budget, Mayor Corradino said.
   "The storm (in April) cost the borough over $400,000," he said. "Some of that money is reimbursable from FEMA. My understanding is that there is a line item in the state budget for towns that were affected by the storm."
   The line item comes from a bill proposed by Assemblyman Christopher Bateman, R-16th, in May, which, among other provisions, asks for $1 million to be set aside for Manville and another $1 million for Bound Brook for flood aid financial assistance.
   "There is no formula as of this time in how the money is to be given to the town," Mayor Corradino said.
   The initial budget introduced by the borough in March proposed a $13.2 million spending plan, with a 28 percent increase in the tax rate, which should lessen after the aid is announced.
   In 2006, the borough received about $200,000 in extraordinary aid.