Mayor proposes array of upgrades in budget
Road and park work, new vehicles included in '07 capital plan
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

Bill Neary

EAST BRUNSWICK - An upgraded 911 system, a bike path at Heavenly Farms, and replacement vehicles for parks and public works employees are among the items proposed in a nearly $3.3 million capital budget.

Mayor William Neary presented his 2007 capital budget to the Township Council last week, stressing that the recommended projects would not result in increased taxes since the expenses are the same as the prior year's retired debt.

"Since the administration and Township Council are committed to fight any increases in property taxes, this capital budget is completely appropriate," Neary said in a statement. "The capital budget for 2007 will have no impact on our property taxes, and will provide the tools that the municipality needs to maintain effective services for our residents."

Neary said that despite the "difficult economic times," township officials "cannot be shortsighted by cutting down on our capital budget programs. First and foremost, these expenses or cuts in these expenditures would not impact your property tax rate. However, if important upgrades, equipment purchases and projects are postponed indefinitely, it will have a critical impact on our property taxes if we fail to plan for the future."

Almost half the proposed capital budget is for road projects and drainage work, including $700,000 for the pavement management program. Of that, $290,000 will come from the water utility budget to pay for a new truck and a new water line and street improvements in the Washington Heights section. Among the other road projects is $520,000 worth of improvements to Dutch Road, with the state pitching in $200,000 toward that sum.

The proposal includes $300,000 to upgrade the township's 911 system and $106,500 to purchase in-car cameras and mobile data terminals for police patrol cars. However, some $206,500, or about half those expenses, will be funded with cash from custom seizures and a federal Homeland Security grant.

Neary is also proposing seven new replacement vehicles for the Parks and Public Works Department, including three Mason dump trucks at $90,000 each and a $135,000 front-end loader.

Among the "quality-of-life improvements" are a bike path at Heavenly Farms ($42,000), renovated walkways and courtyard at the Civic Center ($160,000), better customer service facilities at the township clerk's office ($8,000), and the expansion of the municipal parking lot ($84,000).

Also proposed is a $150,000 warehouse improvement project at Baseball Managers Park, Dunhams Corner Road.

"There is another $125,000 for open space if we see an opportunity to preserve more undeveloped land in East Brunswick," Neary said.

The capital budget has primarily been used to maintain local roads, which Neary said had been neglected until he took office 10 years ago.

"Since then we have committed more than one million dollars a year to reconstruct and pave roads, to fix drainage problems, and improve our water supply system, to name just a few items," he said.

Approaching the projects annually allows the town to "avoid an unforeseen emergency that would necessitate large-scale repairs and bonding."

In general, the capital budget is used to protect residents from "spikes" in the property tax rates due to postponing or neglecting repairs, Neary said.

The Township Council introduced the budget in a 3-1 vote following Neary's presentation March 12, with Councilman David Stahl voting against it. Councilwoman Catherine Diem was not present. A public hearing and possible adoption is set for the April 16 council meeting.

Neary said he welcomes dialogue from the public and questions from the council regarding the capital budget, which he noted was pared down from $11.6 million in requests from department heads to slightly less than $3.3 million.

"I hope I can count on your support for the priorities set in this year's capital budget," Neary told the council.