In the past two years, Mahwah residents have not had to pay more for dog licenses, zoning permits, or to participate in township rec programs. Water and sewer rates have also stayed the same in 2011 and 2012.

“In the past two years, we have only raised one fee in the township. The pool fees went up for 2012,” Mahwah’s Business Administrator Brian Campion told Patch in an interview Monday. The town council voted earlier this year to raise pool fees in an attempt to cover some of the costs of operating the facility.

According to Campion, Mahwah has not needed to raise or add fees to make up for revenue lost as a result of the state-mandated two percent tax levy cap. Other towns in Bergen County and across the state have been making headlines for raising fees as a way to compensate for budget gaps created by the cap.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney introduced legislation last month aimed at preventing towns from raising “user fees” on services in an attempt to make up for budget gaps caused by the cap, NJ.com reported. Governor Chris Christie reportedly endorsed the bill, saying it will be signed into law by July 1.

Campion said the new law would not have much of an impact on Mahwah residents. “I think this is a bigger [deal] statewide than it is here. We have not needed to raise fees to make up for the tax levy cap. In 2012, we were under the cap, so raising fees wouldn’t make sense.”

Mayor Bill Laforet said the size and makeup of Mahwah contribute to the township’s ability to do this. “We are a big town with a lot of residents and a lot of businesses,” he said. “And, we’ve had a history of being fiscally responsible. So, we are not in the same position as some of these smaller towns in our area that are searching for ways to pay the bills without being able to raise taxes.”

In a recent report on fee-raising in area towns, NorthJersey.com cited towns like Passaic, which it reported raised fees for handicapped parking and added a charge for firefighters responding to residents homes.

“We don’t have any hidden fees for things like firefighting or garbage pickup,” Campion said.  

Mahwah’s recent fee history has not been without controversy. During last year's election, water rates became an issue in the campaign after residents complained of high water bills. According to Campion, water rates were raised in 2002, and then again beginning in 2008 for a three-year phased-in rate increase. Residents now pay $3.39 or $4.06 per hundred cubic feet of water, depending on usage.

Quarterly rates went up according to the following schedule, where usage is measured in cubic feet, and the rate is per 100 cubic feet of water used:

Residents pay more for water from May 1 to September 30 of each year, thanks to a summer surcharge. Those rates went up as follows, per 100 cubic feet of water used:

The rates remained constant in 2011 and 2012.

“In the past, when we have raised rates or fees, it has only been to help cover costs, and costs go up,” Campion said. "But recently, we have been able to keep everything constant."

Have a question or a news tip? Email the editor Jessica Mazzola at jessica.mazzola@patch.com. Or, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your email inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.