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COUNCIL BEGINS MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS TO GAUGE BUDGET NEEDS
By Keith Hagarty
As the township prepares its 2008 municipal operating budget, the council has begun the process of meeting with department heads to review their funding requests.
Two department heads from the township administration office and the township office of purchasing and contracts recently went before the council to provide a brief line item overview. The overview highlighted some of their needs for the upcoming fiscal year.
Last year's $71 million 2007 municipal budget was adopted by the council with a 4.9-cent tax rate increase, bringing the overall municipal tax rate up to 90.2 cents for every $100 of assessed property value. Last year's rate increase meant the owner of a home assessed at $150,000 paid approximately $74.50 more per year.
The initial tax rate increase was proposed at 12 cents per $100 of assessed value, but the council later decided to dip into the surplus and defer its tax payment to the school district.
The former administration, led by former Mayor Dan Kelly, blamed years of zero tax increases and unavoidable rising expenses for employees' contracted pay raises, as well as higher utility bills, as primary reasons behind last year's tax increase. Kelly said his tax proposal and budget relied less on surplus than in previous years, when surplus funds were generally used to reduce tax increases.
Councilwoman Kathy Russell- the lone Democrat on the council- voted against the adoption of last year's budget.
This year, no official figures regarding the overall size of the anticipated budget or the tax rate have yet been released by the town.
The 2008 budget process will become more visible as the public presentations by the department heads that began on Tuesday continue.
As a division of the Brick Township Department of Administration and Finance, the office of purchasing and contracts is responsible for the acquisition of all goods and/or services for the town, Township Purchasing Agent Richard F. MacDonald told the council.
Some of the department's requests include over $350,000 for salaries and wages, with another $73,000 requested for estimated tax bills.
The department has also allocated $1,875 for expenses incurred to attend conferences, meeting and other various educational programs for its staff.
"It's important to train and have capable replacements ready to step in," said Mc- Donald.
The department is also requesting $1,000 for membership for McDonald and three staff members in the state's purchasing programs and organizations.
The township office of administration is comprised of eight employees, some of which include the township public information officer, two analytical staff members and three office personnel.
The office will be saving $64,000 from last year, with the elimination of the assistant administrative analyst position. Last year's budget position is now handled by Township Business Administrator Scott Pezarras and two other municipal employees.
The office is looking for $1,600 to attend conferences and conventions and educational opportunities.
"The administration has expressed an interest to get educated in certain aspects of municipal government, and I've always thought that having fully trained personnel is the way to go," said Pezarras, who also serves as the department head of administration, finance and public affairs.
"It may be a little cumbersome and may cost some money, but the return on your dollar is a good investment," Pezarras told the council.
For printing and binding services, the office is requesting $1,200, with another $200 sought for office supplies.
The council will be continuing meetings with various department heads over the coming weeks.
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