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Message |
    
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5389
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, April 16, 2005 - 7:58 pm: |     |
Reflective:
You left out the Fire Department taking over the EMS function during daylight hours (previously all EMS functions were performed by the First Aid Squad); the creation of Cultural Affairs position; the expansion of the adult education program at the library; and the gift of the Art Gallery to the Township. |
Reflective
Citizen
Username: Reflective
Post Number: 912
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, April 16, 2005 - 9:59 pm: | |
Thanks Joan,
as I mentionned the above is not inclusive, but my point was meant to be little by little, services/programs/positions expanded.
A key question we must ask ourselves is - are these examples vital to the services a township must provide to the residents? Or are they just nice to have when the revenues are rolling in?
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5392
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 17, 2005 - 9:24 am: | |
Reflective:
That's the question the TC will have to answer when they vote on the final budget and the question each one of us will have to answer for ourselves in deciding who to vote for in the June primary and/or the November election.
Once programs are in place and people have been hired with the expectation of continued employment it is very difficult to reduce costs by cutting services and reducing jobs.
In terms of impact on the present and future town budgets, your examples (and my additions) fall into a number of different catagories. Here are some examples:
1. David Carew's salary (now likely reflected in his pension)is an on-going obligation which cannot be taken back and which will remain Town responsibility for the life of the individual involved (and possibly their beneficiary).
2. Donations to the CCR, Village Alliance and Springfield Avenue Partnership have been part of the Town budget for several years probably justified by the argument that each of these organizations is performing a vital role which is often assumed by the municipality in other jurisdictions and which would cost a lot more if the Town had to fully fund the program on its own. Still this kind of expense remains optional and could be among the first to go in a serious budget crunching session.
3. Assumption of the EMS function became necessary when the volunteer squad was no longer able to recruit/retain sufficient members who were available during the day time hours to perform this vital service. Now, if rumors of the forced demise of the First Aid Squad are to be believed, the township budget may have to be increased even further to meet the costs of additional EMS trained staff who will need to be added to the Fire Department budget. This budget item is not likely to be removed unless the First Aid Squad can regain the capability of providing round the clock service and the Fire Department can be convinced to give up a function it originally did not want.
4. The town has already taken over Springfield Avenue and this has cost and will continue to cost the town a great deal of money in maintenance and operating costs. Arguments in favor of the expenditure include the large amount of grant money which was contributed to the reconstruction effort and the visible improvement that can be seen in the commercial development of SA. Arguments opposed include the large amount of town money that went into the reconstruction effort (which might otherwise have come from County funds) and either that visible improvement in Springfield Avenue would have taken place without the Town taking over SA or that there has not been sufficient commercial redevelopment on Springfield Avenue to support the financial effort which has been made there.
5. Increases in cultural affairs expenditures have been tied by some to the increase in real property values in town since such attractions make Maplewood a better place to live and contribute to a sense of community for which this Town is becoming well known. Others (especially those who do not partake in these cultural programs) see them as an unnecessary expenditure. Some people like having two facilities owned by the Town which are devoted to cultural activities. Others would like to see one or both properties returned to the tax roles. |
Woodster
Citizen
Username: Woodster
Post Number: 49
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, April 17, 2005 - 11:19 am: | |
Let's not foget the economic developer and planner that were hired last year. How much did it cost us to have them tell us what we already knew? |
bottomline
Citizen
Username: Bottomline
Post Number: 225
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, April 18, 2005 - 10:50 am: | |
Honestly, Woodster, be patient. Just because I went away for the weekend doesn’t mean I forgot about you and your pal Reflective. The economic development consultants are on my list, too.
Now, back to Reflective. I didn’t realize you were considering items over such a long time-frame. In my earlier posts, my impression of your complaints was that:
- There has been significant discretionary expansion of local services that have burdened the taxpayers.
- That the Democrats were responsible for these increases in services and taxes.
Recall that the Democrats came to power in Maplewood just over ten years ago, when Ellen Davenport became mayor in 1994.
I would like to add to your list those items that Joan cited, as well as Woodster’s consultants. I also like Joan’s approach of organizing them into relevant categories, although my groupings are a bit different than hers. Let’s try to break things down.
SALARIES:- Police Director position
- Dave Carew, Township Administrator
The Police Director position has come and gone. It only existed for a few years. It was created as part of a legal/labor situation and was never an expansion of services.
Carew was a town employee for decades, retiring in 1999. I don’t see how his salary can be viewed as a new or expanded service, even if he got raises. His successor was hired in at a lower salary since she had fewer years’ experience. Hence, this budget item is not as large as it once was. (That could change, however, when the town hires the next administrator.) MAJOR POLICY SHIFTS:- Jitney service
- Fire Department EMS
- Change of jurisdiction of Springfield Avenue
You are correct about the expansion of the Jitney from its original grant funding. I suppose this could be viewed as an expansion of service, but I subscribe to the notion that it was introduced to reduce the need for more parking near the train station, which would have been more costly and disruptive.
As Joan noted, the Fire Department’s assumption of daytime EMS responsibilities was because the volunteer first aid squad couldn’t maintain sufficient staff.
I suppose the change of jurisdiction of Springfield Avenue could also be seen as an expansion of services. But the state really isn’t interested in operating these old urban highways anymore so we were going to have to deal with it sooner or later.
I see all of these items as policy issues the town couldn’t avoid, not as discretionary increases in services. CAPITAL SPENDING:- Springfield Avenue
- Burgdorff Cultural Center
For these items, I assume you’re referring to capital spending for construction and other major improvements. These are funded through bonding (i.e., borrowing) so the cost to taxpayers is through debt service on the bonds. I’m not sure that the average level of bonding has changed much over the last few years. Consequently, I suspect your real problem is with the town’s choice of projects. Public opinion certainly varies widely about the Springfield Avenue streetscape projects.
The Burgdorff Cultural Center (BCC) is an interesting case. It was donated to the town in 1988, when the Republicans were still in control. It was accepted by the town without any provision whatsoever for an operating budget. For several years, the BCC was run on the cheap by informally letting the Strollers community theater troupe take over. (The Strollers are not a municipal entity but are an independent, not-for-profit organization.) The challenge came when other groups, such as ArtsMaplewood and the Rec. Dept. itself, got interested in using the facility. The town made some modest improvements a few years ago, mostly for utilitarian things like fixing the roof and remodeling the bathrooms. It is a very heavily used building. NEW OR EXPANDED SERVICES:- Donations to the Community Coalition on Race (CCR), Maplewood Village Alliance and Springfield Avenue Partnership. Each of these receives a subsidy of a few tens of thousands of dollars a year.
- Operating costs for the Burgdorff Center and the 1978 Arts Center. This is very basic stuff, utilities and low-level maintenance. It’s not clearly itemized in the budget but is in the range of 20-30 thousand dollars a year.
- Cultural Affairs Advisor. This is a part-time position created in 1999, originally to deal with scheduling and management of the Burgdorff Center.
- Consultants for economic development and land use planning. The town has no full-time staff in these areas and relies on consultants for expertise economic development, zoning and redevelopment. The amount varies from year to year, depending on the projects, but it’s probably fair to say that it’s higher in the last five years than the five years before that.
I would estimate that all of these items combined add up to roughly 200 thousand dollars a year, which is slightly less than one percent of the annual budget. Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion about any expenditure, but I don’t see that a one percent increase over five or ten years is the root cause of our tax distress. It just doesn’t add up.
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bottomline
Citizen
Username: Bottomline
Post Number: 226
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, April 18, 2005 - 11:10 am: | |
Woodster,
Two separate comments to your recent posts.
First, I believe that our economic development consultant has done more than tell us what we already knew. He has put the town in direct contact with developers whom we otherwise might not have met. These are developers of the right size for Maplewood -- not too big, not too small. Talk is cheap, of course, so you're right to reserve judgment until results are made public. But there is more to his services than last year's written report.
In another thread, you asked about the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC). I highly recommend it as a way to learn about the municipal budget. CBAC members are sometimes frustrated that they don't have enough influence. After all, they are only advisory. However, it's not a heavy time commitment and it provides in-depth information about how our local government allocates its funds.
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Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 8213
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 18, 2005 - 4:04 pm: | |
I think the economic development consultant is a good idea. South Orange has been going it alone and, charitably, development has been slow.
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Woodster
Citizen
Username: Woodster
Post Number: 51
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 10:25 pm: | |
The TC voted to hire the consultant again this year at a cost of 36k a year. They also approved 2 more police officers (I still think this is pay back for campaign support of Fred, Ian, Kathy, and Ken, just my opinion after seeing what was giving to this department this year)1 more firefighter (to handle additional Ems calls) and they made a part time employee of the FD full time. Then they talked about cutting 85K in salaries. (this number is for 6 months worth of savings, so the actual savings will be $170k a year) This was done because as the mayor said "my concern is the tax burden on residents in town right now."
Some math:
Employee reduction= $170k a year,
New positions this year= $140k a year
New positions in a couple of years= $230k a year.
Where and what positions will be cut?
The mayor's short term solutions will end up costing us a lot more in a couple of years.
Back to the developer, Harrignton already had plans to redevelop Burnett Ave. If anything the developer and the mayor have slowed him down. SA has been bringing in new stores every month with the help of the SA Partnership. The developer has brought nothing to the table. I have heard this man speak about his plans to change Maplewood and believe me, it won't be for the better. |
Woodster
Citizen
Username: Woodster
Post Number: 54
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 10:47 pm: | |
Also, see my thread in the soapbox "more time revenue" |
bottomline
Citizen
Username: Bottomline
Post Number: 227
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 11:29 pm: | |
What's the deal, Woodster, you don't like a strong police force?
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Woodster
Citizen
Username: Woodster
Post Number: 57
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 11:39 pm: | |
Nothing personal against the force itself. I just feel there was a lot of dirty politicing in the last election and I believe it is now costing us a lot of money for them to be paid back. They promoted 7 Sgts., 1 LT., and 1 Cptn. They got a decent raise and they are getting a new building. What haven't they been given? Will the 2 more men be put on the street or will this be so the PBA can get the scheduling they want? If you will actually see these new hires on the streets in addition to the number we have on the streets now then I have no problem with it. |
bottomline
Citizen
Username: Bottomline
Post Number: 228
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 9:09 am: | |
What was dirty about the politics in the last election? I recall it as up front and out in the open.
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5420
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 4:39 pm: | |
Woodster:
It is my understanding that the two new police officers were hired to reduce overtime costs and to phase in new hires to offset attrition. The cost to the town for the new hires will likely be much less than you project.
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Woodster
Citizen
Username: Woodster
Post Number: 59
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 10:07 pm: | |
Joan, in the first year it will be less but after a few years the local Police make upper 60's to low 70's. Once again, you can't judge the ot numbers without seeing why the ot was needed. Was it due to a call or investigation or was it due to employees calling out sick? I'm in the numbers game so I know how one can the numbers say what they want.
Bottomline, when Deluca/Ryan ran there were several members of the PBA out on election day at the polling places making remarks to the voters as they walked in to vote. I know because I was one of the people who heard the comments. Thank God the main culprit has left our force. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 8259
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 22, 2005 - 7:43 am: | |
Woodster, the promotions you mentioned were the first in several years. Promotions had been held up because of the contract problems in the past.
In the interim supervisors retired, resigned, etc. and were not replaced.
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Paul Surovell
Supporter
Username: Paulsurovell
Post Number: 307
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 2:04 pm: | |
Can someone point me to a site that shows the current budgets of the Maplewood Township Committee, the local School Board and Essex County?
Also, which issue of the "Maplewood Leaflet" has this information, with pie-charts, etc.? I remember seeing this in 2003.
Similarly, where do I go to find a breakdown of the our tax bill?
Thanks. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5432
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 2:21 pm: | |
Paul:
You can probably do a search of the official town website for the leaflet issue you need. I think they are all posted there in PDF format.
The current budget information should be available from the Town Clerk's Office. They can probably also advise you on how to obtain the other information you are looking for. |
Rebecca Raines
Citizen
Username: Robin_realist
Post Number: 304
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, April 24, 2005 - 3:03 pm: | |
Paul, I would like to caution you about interpreting the budget proposal. I understand that due to caps on municipal budgets, the administration has rearranged certain costs to allow more flexibility with the budget. A specific example is the Library budget. Certain items, maintenance of grounds and buildings, for example, were moved over under the library budget. It's a bookkeeping thing and I'm not really complaining about that. What concerns me is that the budget dollar amount for the library for this year looks higher than last year. The increase is to pay for those 'new items' being charged to the library. Unfortunately the amount of increase isn't as large as the items added, therefore the 'budget cuts'. It takes a little skill to interpret. Anyone who is interested in the library budget can contact the library director, Jane Kennedy, and she will give you a copy and may even spend a little time explaining where the cuts actually are. I am rraines@maplewoodlibrary.org |
Woodster
Citizen
Username: Woodster
Post Number: 62
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, April 24, 2005 - 5:23 pm: | |
Rebecca,
I keep hearing about staff cuts throughout the town not just the library, do you have any info on what other staff cuts are being made? You don't have use names just list the departments or positions.
Thanks |
Rebecca Raines
Citizen
Username: Robin_realist
Post Number: 306
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, April 24, 2005 - 8:10 pm: | |
I believe several positions are being eliminated at Town Hall. The Health Department is closing the clinic attached to the Hilton Library and I believe there were reductions to the Rec Dept. I don't have a copy of the overall budget, but as I said, it's difficult to interpret anyway. I think the department heads were given numbers to work with and of course the decisions to cut staff are their choice. But sometimes staff and their associated benefits are about all there is in a budget, so it's not like they really have a choice. Many of the services we have in town are all about people giving you service, not automated machines, so the budgets are pretty heavy in that area. What I'm afraid will happen, as has already happened in some cases: More hourly people without benefits will be hired to do 'temp' work. Although these people are cheap, they usually aren't stable and if they are, they should be getting benefits but won't. Not trying to stir the pot, I believe what I've stated are facts. I'll let you know if I hear of more specifics. R |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5447
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 10:48 am: | |
I just got a copy of the 2005 Introduced Municipal Budget of the Township of Maplewood from the Town Clerk's Office. They are immediately available to members of the CBAC; others have to fill out a request form. |
Paul Surovell
Supporter
Username: Paulsurovell
Post Number: 308
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, April 25, 2005 - 2:51 pm: | |
Joan, thanks for the suggestion, but searching the Township website for "budget" yields a slew of references, mostly where the word appears in a Township meeting agenda or some other irrelevant context.
It's nice to know that you can get a copy of the 2005 proposed budget if you travel to the Clerk's office and make an application.
But aren't there on-line copies of (a) the current (existing) Township budget, the School Board budget and County budget and (b) the proposed budgets for these three entities?
And isn't there an on-line copy of how the Maplewood tax bill is distributed among the three recipients?
Do we have to travel down to the Clerk's office for all of this?
If anyone could send me a direct link for any of these reports, I'd be very grateful.
Thanks.
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5453
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 9:28 am: | |
Paul:
I am unaware of any of this budget information existing on line in an easy to locate format. I know the Town budget is not on-line because that question came up during CBAC duscussions last year; but, you should be able to locate the 2003 Leaflet you are searching for by going to the leaflet section of the town website and reading through the four leaflets there for 2003, one at a time, until you find the charts you remember seeing.
Tucker may have something posted on line for the school district budget. You can try contacting him and asking or searching the site yourself.
The Maplewood Library's reference room may also have some or all of the information you are looking for but the Town Clerk's Office remains the primary source. Try giving Liz a call and seeing what she has if you want to save a trip to Town Hall. |
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