MIDDLETOWN, NJ - The Township Committee will meet Monday night to introduce budget amendments that would allow the township to spend approximately $1.32 million less than last year to maintain municipal programs and services.
Earlier this year the township faced the potential of a significant tax increase that was totally unacceptable to the Township Committee. Diligent work by the staff along with input, direction and participation from the Township Committee enables us to now introduce amendments to the proposed budget that contain significant reductions, explained Township Administrator Anthony Mercantante.
As a result the 2009 municipal tax rate is expected to be $0.35 per $100 of assessed value which equates to an increase of 1.95 cents per $100 of assessed value or $7 more per month for the average homeowner with a home assessed at $433,718.
The amendments anticipated to be introduced Monday would reduce the 2009 proposed budget by $1,327,894 when compared the 2008 final budget of $62,892,648. The 2009 budget, as amended, would total $61,564,754.
The Township Committee accomplished the reduction in the face of a significant loss of revenue of approximately $3.6 million. The revenue loss stems primarily from reductions in state aid, permit fees, interest earned on bank deposits and the depletion of surpluses. To minimize the impact on local property taxpayers, township officials have cut more than $5 million in departmental expenditure requests, garnered $1.3 million in grants, requested a 50% deferral on pension contributions and implemented new cost-saving measures.
"We have worked tirelessly to find every possible area of reduction without sacrificing our ability to provide our residents with the services and programs they have come to expect and to rely on. It is vital that we maintain essential services such as police protection, building inspections and leaf and brush collection, snow removal and recreational opportunities, said Mayor Pamela M. Brightbill.
Middletown has steadily reduced its work force over the past 15 years. The township has a very low number of employees per capita, compared to most municipalities and the lowest number of police per capita in Monmouth County. "Despite this we were forced to look seriously at the possibility of furloughs this year. This would have been our last resort," explained Mercantante. We worked very hard to avoid this option. In addition to their impact on our ability to provide services to the community, furloughs would have been felt most by lower wage workers and their families."
Of the $1.3 million in grants the township is slated to receive this year, $566,175 will defray operating costs associated with community services such as the Senior Center, Clean Communities, and Crossroads, and law enforcement activities that target drinking and driving, underage drinking, and seat belt usage. Another $785,521 will defray the cost of purchasing needed fire equipment, furthering efforts to preserve two historic structures and offering programs that reduce community's energy usage.
Measures being implemented to further enhance the township's long history of fiscal efficiency include:
The appointment of an in-house Township Engineer producing an expected savings of $75,000 to $100,000 annually.
Requiring planning and zoning board applicants to fund township costs associated with reviewing their development applications. Revisions to the escrow fee ordinance are expected to save $50,000 annually.
Establishing an Early Retirement Incentive program.
Suspension of Township Committee salaries for 2009.
A continued limiting of overtime for non-essential personnel without approval of the Township Administrator.
Evaluating community recreation programs to ensure that program fees, at a minimum, cover the Township's cost to provide them.
In addition, Middletown has requested more than $3 million in federal stimulus money for projects that can save the township money, improve the town infrastructure, and further the community's commitment to using green technologies whenever possible. These projects include Leonardo Outfall and Stormwater Drainage Improvements, construction of a state-mandated Truck Wash and several road improvements.
Historically the municipal tax rate is about 20 percent of the tax bill homeowners receive. Another 19 percent is the county's portion of the bill. The final 61 percent goes to school taxes.
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5 comments:
Damn good job!
So where in NJ are Democrats doing a better job than Republicans in Middletown?
I still don't see anywhere.
$1.3 million reduction in spending from 2008 to 2009 to keep the tax increase very minor while not having to sacrifice services for the community. Great job!
This is awesome. It's quite entertaining to see the local Democrats try year in and year out to find some issue to latch onto. Well it looks like the budget won't be one this year. Wasn't it Middletown Mike who called for a forensic audit of Middletown's budget? Based on what? Boy Democrats really have no problem whizzing away tax dollars to try and help their pathetic candidates get elected.
this is helpful to Curley, because if Middletowners are more satisfied with the GOP governing body, it may mean a much-needed good plurality, for all Rep's, from our lagest population..Byrnes was a good pick for them, as he is better known in Middletown, and having been already elected with some 7,600 votes thus far, locally. John, knock on those doors in your new hometown!..
And Democrats in Red Bank continue to spend - this week bonding even more for water company "improvements" that their engineers didn't see coming. Every time the czar of Red Bank, Ed McKenna, turns up with Jon Corzine, the residents of Red Bank should take note of the association - it is not coincidental that these two big spenders are thick as thieves. If you want to see how Corzine's tax and spend policies work on a local level, look at what the McKennacrats have done to Red Bank. The Republicans in Middletown are doing a stellar job. Where in New Jersey are Democrats doing a better job than Republicans in Middletown?
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