GOT QUESTIONS?
Come to the TOWN HALL MEETING!
HOSTED by Council Tuesday, 9/30 at 7:00pm at Borough Hall 

This November, Park Ridge voters will decide the future of Mill Pond. The ballot includes a referendum on whether (and how) to dredge the pond — an investment that hasn’t been made since 1979. That last dredge of 8 ft bought us 40 years.

You’ll see three options on the ballot:

    1.    Up to $5M → ~$101/year → pond depth 6.5–7.8 feet → lasts 13–16 years → +2.02% municipal tax.

    2.    Up to $10M → ~$202/year → pond depth 13–15.2 feet → l lasts 29–31 years → +4.04% municipal tax.

    3.    Do not dredge.

We know ballot referendum language can be confusing—and we agree! To help make sense of it, here’s a breakdown:

What those numbers mean for you:

    •    $101/year = $8.42/month.
    •    $202/year = $16.83/month.
    •    Example: A $1M home (assessed around $500K) = $101/year for the $5M option, $202/year for the $10M option.
   •    The increase is only on the municipal portion of taxes (about 24% of your bill).

Why a YES vote matters:

✔ NJDEP will restock fish → clean, safe recreation.

✔ Reduce mosquitoes + algae → protect family health.

✔ Safeguard groundwater supply from contamination.

✔ Prevent flooding at Memorial Field (lower repair & insurance costs).

What happens if we vote NO?

✘ NJDEP will not restock the pond.

✘ Mosquito breeding and algae blooms will worsen.

✘ Dredging will only cost more later.

✘ Ongoing flooding, more damage + higher repair bills.

Get involved!

    •    Next Town Council Meeting: Sept. 9, 8 PM — bring your questions.

    •    Questions? Contact the Mayor and Town Council directly.

    •    Show your support by signing the petition — and most importantly,              vote in November.

This decision will shape the health, safety, and character of our community for the next generation.

Understanding the ballot language:

The 2.02% and 4.04% pertain an increase to just the municipal portion of our taxes, which is 24%.

The $101 and $202 pertains to the approximate amount your taxes would increase per year, based on assessed value.

Assessed value is what the tax office uses to calculate your tax bill, and is lower than market/property value is the price a property would likely sell for.

To determine your market/property value vs. your assessed value, visit zillow.com. The number at the top (your Zestimate) is your approximate property value. Scroll down to public tax history to see your tax assessment.

The ballot includes feet (in dredge depth) to years (lifespan of dredge). The last dredge lasted 40 years, far longer than the estimates provided in the ballot options

$5M vs. $10M - what does that mean I'd pay?
Park Ridge is requesting either $5,000,000 or $10,000,000 to dredge the pond. The restoration will cost residents about $101/year for 5 million or $202/year for 10 million.

For example: A home selling for $1M will have an assessed tax value of about $500,000 ($101/year or just $8.42 a month)

Why should we agree to a tax increase?
To prevent flooding at Memorial field, which impacts field availability, insurance rates, etc.

So NJDEP will restock the pond with fish, offering the community clean recreation activities.

Decreased mosquito breeding and algae blooms, which impact our families' health.

To improve our groundwater supply, which may be negatively impacted by the contamination/sediment issues.

What are the consequences of voting NO?
Continued flooding issues, and increased costs to repair Memorial field and other impacted community resources.

NJDEP will not restock the pond until the contamination and deteriorating ecosystem are addressed.

The stagnant water and resulting algae are contributing to worsening mosquito breeding increasing the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses.
The cost of dredging will only continue to increase. 

Please consider signing this petition, and showing up to support this referendum in November. You will be supporting the restoration of part of the center of our community and its history for present and future generations.