|
Council Upset With 12-Cent Tax Hike In Mayor's First Budget
By Catherine Snipe
A proposed 12-cent tax hike unveiled this week in the 2007 municipal budget is what some township council
members are calling "a burden,"
"an absurd move" and "an incredible proposal."
The council took issue with the budget's 12-cent tax increase, strongly criticizing the doubledigit tax hike proposed by Mayor Dan Kelly, his first since recently taking the role of Brick mayor.
"I am shocked," said Councilman Joseph Sangiovanni. "Twelves cents is way out of line."
The mayor's proposed budget took last year's spending plan and just adapted it almost step-for-step into this year's spending plan, which is never a good idea, said Councilwoman Ruthanne Scaturro. Instead, the township must pour over last year's numbers and find new areas to be more efficient, she explained.
"Develop ways of cutting spending, and increase revenues - you need to take them upon yourself," she said.
Councilman Dan Toth agreed, urging Kelly to go back and take a hard look at spending.
"There are areas of the budget that truly can cost less," Toth said, pointing to costs associated with running the smaller commissions that are part of township government.
"Let's truly take a look," said Toth. "Let's filter them out."
Councilman Anthony Matthews said it's a problem the township has been trying to deal with for several years, and will likely work on for years to come. Matthews said the proposed increase is more than several years' increases combined.
Several council members agreed that better ways to find revenue must be found, but that increasing the tax rate by such an amount is certainly not the answer.
"You can't reach deeper into the pockets of taxpayers," Matthews said. "That is the easier thing to do. The less easy decision is to find ways to control spending."
Council President Acropolis said the township still has a surplus, and that it could help balance the budget. In addition, cutting spending and finding efficiencies, combined with a more modest tax increase is a better solution to reduce the burden of a double-digit tax increase placed on residents, according to some of the council members.
"You can't right the ship in one year," said Councilman Joseph Sangiovanni.
"One-shot" revenue sources eventually run out, said Councilwoman Kathy Russell.
"This is a check of reality in Brick Township," Russell said.
The township might have benefited from smaller tax increases over several years, Township Administrator Scott Pezarras, but former Mayor Joseph Scarpelli opted instead for a zero or series of smaller tax increases over several years, which only led to the inevitable 12-cents increase.
With Kelly admitting he is no expert on municipal budgets or finance, Councilman Michael Thulen said in saying so, perhaps Kelly is asking for help to fine tune the budget.
The council pledged to do so, mainly because they agreed the tax increase was unacceptable, but something has to be done.
"I can pretty much guarantee 12 cents won't be passed," said Council President Stephen Acropolis.
Despite their differences, the council vowed to work with the administration to iron out their disagreements in the budget.
The budget will be formally introduced by the council next week, March 20, at their caucus meeting.
| 
