Notice of the Township Committee special budget meeting on January 21, 2012

[Tax Payer]

[Article]

From the Cranbury Press. It appears the TC is looking for cuts so residents need to attend the meeting Saturday.

The full article can be read at:

http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2012/01/19/cranbury_press/news/doc4f187a3a75bd8776530269.txt

Here are the quotes all concern the same theme loss of revenue and budget cuts.

”The issue this year is the same budget problems are coming back: reduced property value and reduced ratables, property taxes, and increasing pensions,” Mayor David Cook said.


”Unfortunately (the new businesses) don’t really make a dent,” Mr. Cook said. “There continues to be an issue of rentability of warehouse space. If you could get five dollars a square foot a few years ago you’re getting three and a half to three dollars now. The help would be new construction going forward.”

”We don’t have the final numbers yet, but we continue to lose ratables,” Committeeman James Taylor said. “I think our residents in town have to be prepared that this will be another year where there will be cuts.”

He said if residents can make it to the meeting, it will be a good chance for them to share what they feel is important to the town, and to bring up what they believe should not be cut, so the committee can make cuts that are appropriate and maintain the character of the town.

”Everything is on the table,” Mr. Taylor said. “We want to make sure this is a collaborative process with residents. The more input we get from residents the better our budget will be.”

[Novel idea]

Here is a novel idea.

If you have strong opinions about what should or should not be funded. Ideas for cuts. Ideas for revenue. Any idea other than 'let me post on an anonymous forum."

Then go to the meeting. Doing so will reduce the urge to say silly, ill-informed or ignorant things. And, good ideas will be valued by the committee and your fellow residents.

[Susan Goetz]

Tomorrow will be my first time as a member of the Committee at a budget meeting. I have been studying the numbers, reviewing the requests and recommendations. Understand that none of us wish to raise taxes and I can speak for my fellow Committee members when I say we are all going into tomorrow's meeting with a real desire to find ways to continue to provide the services people of Cranbury want while absolutely controlling spending. We will do all we can tomorrow to understand our options, ask hard questions and seek ways to further hold down costs. At the same time, we must also be mindful of the need to provide our police, public works and administrative personnel, with the tools they need to do their jobs at the level we expect. Likewise, we must continue to support our volunteers who save us tremendous amounts by taking upon themselves critical services other towns must pay professionals to perform. Its a balance and we will be working hard to strike that balance.As I said, this will be my first time at this. The responsibility is significant. Now, we can do this on our own, and determine which services are important and which can be sacrificed. Or it can be a collaborative effort if you can come out tomorrow and let us know what you consider important. I understand we may have some bad weather in the morning and if it is difficult getting to town hall (9AM) please take the time to contact us directly at our Cranbury email addresses and let us know your thoughts. I realize a lot of people read this particular message board and although not an official Cranbury Township board, I am posting here to invite those of you who have constructive comments to contact me and let me know your thoughts - I can be reached at sgoetz@cranbury-nj.com. Thanks. Hope to hear from you - Susan

[Tax payer]

Susan thanks. So let me ask please, what cuts are proposed now that the first meeting has taken place? Can you advise what our taxes look like? Do you think there will be a tax increase or do you think you'll be able to make the necessary cuts? Any insight is appreciated.

I did not attend, but I did see the quotes that seemed to indicate this would be a year for cuts. I hope you all are proving me right and this is not lip service.

[Rumors]

Can someone please provide an update I am hearing lots of rumors and it would be good to have facts.

I am hearing that there are minimal cuts, that there are major cuts, that we're increasing spending like salaries, that we are looking at employee furloughs, that public safety is taking a large hit, that it is not, but LOSAP which is an incentive for volunteers will be, that we're looking to spend more money for hybrid cars, hiring part time police, that police will not be replaced, Rec will be cut and that the TC is looking for 2-3 cent increase at the same time.

These are RUMORS and often contradictory. So can someone who may have attended or a TC member add the facts please? So these Rumors do not become perceived facts. I am starting to feel sorry I did not attend.

[snowed out]

It would be nice if there was an offical update from the township for those of us who were unable to get to the budget meeting.

[Jay T.]

This is only my view and opinion.

The meeting went from 9-5 yesterday. A lot of items were placed on the table for cuts. In the end some basic cuts were made, but the decision was made to invite chairs and department heads in to discuss their budgets if large cuts were to be made.

No discussion occurred regarding a level of tax increase. There was discussion on burn rate for the surplus we use to lower the tax rate and what different tax rates look like. However, NO decision on a tax rate was even close to being finalized.

We did not discuss merit raises.

We did discuss police. At this point a majority of the TC leans to replacing one of the retired officers. The department has 11 patrol officers and one detective today. I won't get into individual positions as I won't speak for the TC. I am happy to discuss my own view on staffing.

I will conclude with there was a lot of discussion, some heated discussions and a few different budget approaches. The next meeting is Feb 4 at 9am and I think that at that meeting things will become refined.

[Police cuts]

Jay,

Thank you. You didn't give much information. But, I assume the process has just begun. What I do take is that you were one of those against replacing both officers from the wording of your statement.

I know our town's force because of my involvement in other areas in the town.

Let me tell you the TC not replacing officers is playing with fire to save a few dollars and I hope you and the TC will rethink Cranbury is not just Main St. and that we have activity that does come here because of our businesses and 130. Plus, if they are not replaced and you still raise taxes then what is that saying?

Right across Rt 130 is Hightstown- N.J. State Police backs Hightstown survey showing presence of 23 gangs in small town

http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2011/03/nj_state_police_backs_hightsto.html

How soon before they start to make their way here? What about all the hotels now and those hotels being built? They will be and are attractive targets. The increased use of 130 or the warehouse district? I would bet your calls are much higher than they were before this building.

Cranbury presently has 11 officers and 1 detective to cover 24 hrs/ 365 days a year to respond to calls. We have 15 in total down from 20.

If that Detective is sick, takes vacation or personal days, is in court or just on a day off there is a gap. Crime scenes don't sit around for a weekend or a week if the person is on vacation. Emergencies don't make appointments and people in emergencies are not that happy when they have 911 tell them there will be a delay, but we have a great library, soccer camp or fire works display they can see.

If you have an arrest you need 2 officers and for a lot of motor vehicle stops and issues you need 2 officers. When that happens you may not have any spare officers to deal with emergencies.

I do not know our salary structure. I do know we're down to 15 officers including a chief which is a level we have not had since I moved here in the late 90's. I also know we continue to support a school budget and other items in town that are "nice to have" comfort type programs. Plus, I am sure we can replace the two retired cops with lower paid people and still save money for some nice to have programs.

We hope to never need a police officer, fire person or EMT showing up at our home, but when we do we don't want our town to become like a Cable company. We apologize for the inconvenience of the break in, assualt, fire or stroke. Please be home between the hours of 2-4 on Monday afternoon and an officer will be there to assist with your issue in the event you are not home please call us to reschedule your emergency.

As the liasion to the Police I am surprised you would seem to not see Public Safety as a Must Do vs a Nice to do.

[Cuts]

They have been cutting the police department since 2008. No more traffic officers. Now detectives are cut and patrol officers that answer the calls for service. Hotels and strip malls are already approved, and the calls for service have been increasing for last 3 years.

[No Crime]

Cranbury, NJ Crime and Crime Rate

http://www.usa.com/cranbury-nj-crime-and-crime-rate.htm

[Love it]

I wish those stats were true. It would be great.

[I do love it]

Looking at the numbers from the link above shows how little crime we have.

[Love it]

Read the TC meeting notes. Those stats are not accurate. The crime is a lot higher in town sadly. I think there was a prior post showing the police investigations.

[guest456]

The sad reality is that the police have priced themselves out of a job. It is not their fault they took what was offered. It has been allowed to happen to all public employees. Would love to have someone ,maybe the math guy, figure out what the cost for a police officer for his whole life including retirement and medical really is. Many people work at jobs just as demanding and more dangerous then police officers with alot less pay and no guaranteed pension. You know we already have 2 police chiefs retired and another coming soon. How soon are we going to pay more for the retired then the ones working? Or, are we already there? No, their job is not that dangerous the people catching your seafood is the most dangerous who has no guarantee pension with cost of living increases and medical. Time to catch on to reality!

[Most dangerous Jobs]