Palisades Park Borough
Palisades Park Borough certified 4,161.18 of spending it later reported as 0.00, and three of its reports put more money on hand than the Borough says it ever received or its own figures leave.
Published 10/03/2026
TLDR
- The Borough reports receiving 43,139.71 since 2022. Its FY2026 report says it still has all 43,139.71. It also says 1,883.71 of it is encumbered. The finding.
- In FY2024 and FY2025 the Borough reported 3,165.54 more on hand than it had ever received. The finding.
- It certified 4,161.18 spent in FY2024. Its program update for the same year says 0.00. No report says what the 4,161.18 bought. The finding.
- The Borough has not produced a ledger. Nothing it reported can be checked against its books.
Summary
Palisades Park Borough, Bergen County, reports receiving 43,139.71 in opioid settlement money through 06/30/2026, with no interest. The money must go to the abatement uses the national settlements list, or to documented evidence-based programs that address the epidemic. It must add to local spending, not replace it.
The Borough has not produced a ledger of its settlement money. The record is its four reports to the Department of Human Services. They report one program and one year of spending, 4,161.18 in FY2024. Read the Borough's record.
The reports do not agree with each other. This project has published three findings from their own figures.
- Reported every dollar ever received as still on hand, 6,044.89
- Two reports put more on hand than it ever received, 3,165.54
- Certified 4,161.18 spent, then 0.00 for the same year, 4,161.18
What the Borough told the State
The State's reporting year runs 07/01 to 06/30.
FY2023. The Borough reported 26,625.62 received and 0.00 expended as of 06/30/2023. It described one program, Opioid education and prevention, for high school students and the general public, funded at 15,000.00 to 20,000.00 and "Awaiting funding approval." It planned to study three years of police overdose responses to choose who to target.
FY2024. The Borough certified 10,511.07 received in the year, 37,136.69 received since 2022, 4,161.18 expended, 0.00 encumbered and 40,302.23 unspent on hand. It answered No to funding any program. Its update of the 2023 program reads "Placement of emergency overdose kits in the public schools and all borough own buildings," with 10 harm reduction supplies distributed.
FY2025. The Borough certified 4,119.31 received, 41,256.00 received since 2022, 0.00 expended, 0.00 encumbered and 44,421.54 on hand. It answered No to funding any new program. The program update, last updated 09/11/2024, gives 0.00 expended from 07/01/2023 to 06/30/2024.
FY2026. The State published the Borough's FY2026 report on 10/01/2026. It certifies 1,883.71 received, 43,139.71 received since 2022, 0.00 expended, 1,883.71 encumbered and 43,139.71 on hand. It answers No to funding any program. It says the Police Department prioritized officer training, responses to opioid incidents and links to treatment. It names the officials who decided as the police chief, a lieutenant and a patrolman. It lists no resource used to decide, no strategic plan and no public engagement.
What the reports' own figures show
| Year | Received since 2022 | Spent to date | Encumbered | Most that can be on hand | Certified on hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | 37,136.69 | 4,161.18 | 0.00 | 32,975.51 | 40,302.23 |
| FY2025 | 41,256.00 | 4,161.18 | 0.00 | 37,094.82 | 44,421.54 |
| FY2026 | 43,139.71 | 4,161.18 | 1,883.71 | 37,094.82 | 43,139.71 |
The received totals carry forward correctly year to year. The on hand figures do not. The FY2024 and FY2025 figures are each 3,165.54 above every dollar received. The FY2025 figure is the FY2024 figure plus that year's receipts. The FY2026 figure equals every dollar received, as if nothing had ever been spent or encumbered.
The 4,161.18 is the only spending the Borough has reported. The FY2024 report that certifies it says no program was funded. The program update filed for the same year says the program spent 0.00. No report names a vendor, a purchase or a date.
The records
The Borough has not produced a ledger. Without one, no payment can be matched to a report, and no spending can be classified. The site publishes the four reports and grades nothing until account records exist.