'Nothing to cut' in tab with 15-cent tax rate hike
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - The Township Council has adopted a 2007 municipal budget that carries a 15-cent increase in the municipal tax rate.

Though the $62 million budget grew by just 3.5 percent from the prior year due to what officials said were fixed and contractual costs and state mandates, it translated to a higher-percentage tax increase. The 15 cents means an increase of $150 for a home assessed at $150,000.

Democratic Councilman David Stahl took issue with tax hike.

"The burden on taxpayers increased, on average, 12 percent," he told the Sentinel.

The council approved the budget in a 4-1 vote, with Stahl casting the lone dissenting vote.

Mayor William Neary has said the budget is bare bones and that all department heads were forced to scrutinize their expenditures to find cuts. He said the budget simply maintains the status quo, with no new services or expenses.

Council President Nancy Pinkin said she could not find any places to trim in the budget, echoing the sentiment of both Neary and township Finance Director L. Mason Neely.

"We did not see any areas we could make a cut," Pinkin said. "There's just nothing to be cut out at this point."

Stahl has voted against all budget appropriations since the start of the year, and has spoken out about the timing of the budget's presentation to the council. He said budget information should be given to the council earlier in the process so that members can have more meaningful input. By the time the council holds budget discussions in May, many of the items in the budget are already ordered or paid for, he said.

Neary has maintained that the council was given ample time and information and to make suggestions on cuts.

Pinkin attributed the tax hike to the fact that East Brunswick received only $200,000 in state extraordinary aid this year, though it had requested $800,000 to defray the tax increase.

She said she thinks that next year the administration will present the budget to the council sooner, and noted that the council members did get more of an opportunity to do an extensive budget review this year than in years past.

Even if the council does not have the budget information, it can still look into ways to save money, such as consolidating jobs.

"I consider myself a fiscal conservative," Pinkin said.

Stahl has voiced concerns about what the future holds for the municipal budget, with questions about revenue from Golden Triangle purchaser Toll Brothers running out and the state tightening its rules on spending caps.

Pinkin said she is concerned about next year's budget, as the township will have to pay increased pension costs.

Neary has said that the municipal budget has been affected by state mandates. For example, the township was required to implement new measures for stormwater management and to make more expensive land acquisitions for the road improvements in the area of Route 18 and Tices Lane. At the same time, however, state aid to the township has not increased in five years.

"East Brunswick taxpayers must face these burdensome costs on their property tax bills," the mayor said during this year's State of the Township Address. "Do not believe for one minute that this pain is not obvious to those of us who are in the trenches facing these problems head on."

Neary said officials have reduced staff and turned down programs recommended by township professionals.

He noted that the Golden Triangle Redevelopment Plan is part of the effort to control property taxes. The plan calls for Tolls Brothers to build residential, office and commercial uses as part of a "transit village" on the Route 18 property that is currently home to Sam's Club and other stores.

However, questions have arisen recently as to when that redevelopment project will occur, as Toll Brothers has yet to submit a site plan application to the township. The builder purchased the Golden Triangle property from the township in 2004 and is paying the township approximately $30 million in increments.