| Author | Message | ||
     doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 336 Registered: 3-2003 |
In the "Official Maplewood" section of MOL, there are two threads which spell out how the Maplewood CBAC functions. These threads are "CBAC Kickoff Meeting" and "Town Services, How you can make a difference." I'm calling this to the attention of any South Orange CBAC members, BOT members and Village employees who may read MOL. I attended a S.O. CBAC meeting a couple of weeks ago as a non-member since I had some questions about the 2004 municipal budget and I was interested in how the S.O. CBAC functioned in comparison to the Maplewood CBAC. My observation is that the S.O. CBAC is not nearly as active and influential as Maplewood. In order to be as influential and active as Maplewood requires an tremendous amount time and effort and I don't know if the citizens of S.O. really want to get that involved. Additionally, my impression of the BOT and Village President is that they really don't want people to get involved in what they consider to be their responsibility. This is not meant as a criticism, just an observation. John Gross said at the meeting that the CBAC was not more involved since people were fairly satisfied with the taxes. I guess what I'm getting at is does South Orange really need a CBAC? Other than Maplewood, I am not aware of any other municipality in N.J. that has a CBAC. In most municipalities, if people have questions about the budget, they express themselves at public meetings. People can certainly still do that with a CBAC, but right now there seems to be a feeling that if the CBAC hasn't objected to a proposed budget, it therefore has said it's o.k. and the budget is presented to the BOT for approval. These are just some thoughts and observations. Maybe CBAC members or others have other thoughts. | ||
| J. Crohn Citizen Username: Jcrohn Post Number: 612 Registered: 3-2003 |
My understanding (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong) is that the CBAC in SO is an advisory committee whose opinion carries no weight. Is that different in Mwd? | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 338 Registered: 3-2003 |
J.Crohn: I think you're right about the advisory function, but I do know last year in Maplewood the CBAC made a presentation before the Township Committee and suggested that the municipal increase be reduced from 4.5% to the COL, or 2.5%, which was in fact done. I really posted on this subject because I'm really not sure what the S.O. CBAC does or is supposed to do. As one CBAC member said at the meeting, "there is no A (for advisory) in what the CBAC does." Maybe you or others have some thoughts? I just don't recall the CBAC making any presentation to the BOT in the last few years. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 339 Registered: 3-2003 |
Incidentally, I did suggest to the CBAC member who wanted to get more involved that he check with Maplewood to see how their CBAC functions. | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 481 Registered: 5-2001 |
The most scary comment you made is "John Gross said at the meeting that the CBAC was not more involved since people were fairly satisfied with the taxes." I find it hard to believe that anyone is "satisfied with the taxes". That's really troubling if that is really the perception in Village Hall. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 340 Registered: 3-2003 |
I think the reasoning in Village Hall is that S.O. residents are used to and expect "a high level of services" and are willing to pay for that. I know that whenever budget cuts are mentioned, this is the response. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 341 Registered: 3-2003 |
Another "incidentally" - This is not meant to be political just an observation. Some months ago I said in another post that the Village President only wants the best for the Village; we all do. The only problem is that we just can't afford it any longer. I've never observed the Village President turn down any request for an expentiture or try to reduce the budget. | ||
| patjoyce Citizen Username: Patjoyce Post Number: 33 Registered: 7-2001 |
Several years ago Kathy Rush was the chair of the CBAC. Prior to the budget being adopted she presented to the BOT suggestions regarding short and long term fiscal planning. As a member in the audience I was impressed with the thorough approach she took in examining the budget and offering input. Since her resignation, the CBAC has appeared to be rudderless. On several occassions Allan Rosen has solicited new members and has requested that the public become more active in the budget process. It is to the advantage of the BOT to have a citizen group review and comment on the budget prior to adoption, rather than having a groundswell of discontent after adoption. Many of our residents have significant experience in municpal finance and I would gladly accept their input on the budget process. Patrick | ||
| NCJanow Citizen Username: Librarylady Post Number: 1062 Registered: 5-2001 |
Year ago Mr.LL also volunteered to work on the CBAC, on the BOE subcommittee in fact. No matter how many requests were made to get additional citizens involved, very few South Oranginas seem to have the time or inclination to work so many hours and so hard for no renumeration. The Village Trustees, of that time, were more than willing to take suggestions and advice from the CBAC, as I am sure they would now. NCJ aka LibraryLady On a coffee break..or something like it. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 342 Registered: 3-2003 |
Pat and LL: Thanks for your responses. In my first post I mentioned that to do the job well is very time-consuming and takes a lot of effort. My comments were not meant to be critical but just an observation. LL - I can understand your comment about South Orangians seeming not to have the time or inclination. Perhaps it's just not a priority and we'll have to accept that. | ||
| NCJanow Citizen Username: Librarylady Post Number: 1063 Registered: 5-2001 |
Thread drift..are we South Orangers, Orangians or Oranginas (like the soda?)> The last sounds so trs chic, don't ya think? NCJ aka LibraryLady On a coffee break..or something like it. | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 483 Registered: 5-2001 |
Nancy, 2 breaks in a span of 43 minutes?  | ||
| NCJanow Citizen Username: Librarylady Post Number: 1064 Registered: 5-2001 |
Mayhew.. the initial request was for an employee reading this thread to reply, as as such I am replying in my professional capacity. Thank you so much for your concern. BTW..I am off duty now and answering this village question on my own time!!! NCJ aka LibraryLady On a coffee break..or something like it. | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 484 Registered: 5-2001 |
Nancy, I was just kidding. (hence the wink) | ||
| bets Citizen Username: Bets Post Number: 399 Registered: 6-2001  |
South Orangeites | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 343 Registered: 3-2003 |
There you go. And at Christmastime we could have the South Orangetts. | ||
| nwyave Citizen Username: Mesh Post Number: 128 Registered: 1-2003 |
Its hard to feel that one can make a difference in the CBAC (which I technically am a member), if that same person (me) has gone to many trustee meetings and gone up to the lecturn and talked about our financial woes over and over again and while been treated with utmost respect, really felt that I wouldn't be able to accomplish anything. Btw, a couple of months ago when the whole fiscal mess came to the surface, it was mentioned that there would be a list of cost savings put together expeditiously. Has that list been put together? What is our current projections for next years muni tax? Its a bit frustrating that we couldn't even defer the asst rec director psn that was open for a couple of years and I continually hear about the tony smith sculpture which will cost us money. I am sure the intent is good, but I just don't know if the BOT has the ability\courage to enact the budget cuts that are needed. Its not an easy thing to do, but neither is paying our taxes. | ||
| vermontgolfer Citizen Username: Vermontgolfer Post Number: 170 Registered: 12-2002 |
nmyave, Extremely frustrating post you just made. I would like to think that since you've either volunteered or elected to accept a position on the CBAC, that at least your efforts would not only be acknowledged, but also acted on. I'd be please to discuss this with you further to see what can be done in an effort to deflect some of the unnecessary expenses and help keep our taxes somewhat in line. If you would like to discuss please private line me. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 344 Registered: 3-2003 |
nywave: I know you've attended practically every BOT meeting the past year and also accepted Allan Rosen's invitation to join the CBAC. I share your concern that the BOT is not willing to make budget cuts. It will be under the pretense that essential services will be effected, but I really doubt this. You are right that when the fiscal mess came up, most of the BOT was talking about making cuts. However, it now appears there is some extra revenue coming in and at a BOT meeting a few weeks ago one of the BOT members said maybe we wouldn't have to make any cuts. At the CBAC meeting I attended I asked John Gross whether budget cuts were still on the table and he said they were. At that meeting, John showed some numbers and because there is an additional $270,000 in revenues coming in now, which also helps the surplus next year, and if an additional $500,000 is set aside for surplus, the increase in 2004 without any cuts is 10-11%. It looks as if with a little tinkering this could be brought down to 4.5% and the BOT could say look what we were able to do. I know that you don't think this is acceptable and neither do I. Not unless everything has really been looked at. I know you had brought up the matter of debt service some time ago. It appears that we are getting pretty close to our cap. | ||
| nwyave Citizen Username: Mesh Post Number: 129 Registered: 1-2003 |
Thanks. Just wanted to clarify one thing. I was put on the CBAC and admittedly have not been an active participant (attended one of the two or three meetings since my appointment) - not because I wasn't welcome or allowed to talk, but because of what I enumerated on the earlier post, did not feel that it would be acted on. I think a 4.5% increase is ridiculous. Do the math on your respective houses on a 4.5% increase for the next 5 years and tell me that most residents would not prefer some sort of budget cuts even if they affect services - not to mention that we had an opportunity not to fill a positin that was open for 2 years and passed it up. Its really unfortunate because there will be a breaking point. Everybody I know in town has the same conversation re. taxes. There is no way the BOT should be content with a 4.5% increase. I'd rather them put on the table what a cpi% increase would entail and let the residents of the town decide what they prefer. Remember each 5% increase has a huge compounding effect when it happens year after year. |
