Cranbury Budget, No Police Force Reductions and Tax Increase....

[Dan Mulligan]

During today’s Municipal Budget hearings for Cranbury Township we had very open and honest discussions as well as difficult discussions regarding our town’s finances. From my perspective these difficult discussions need to be had in order to ensure we truly are doing our job as elected leaders and so that everyone in Cranbury knows we have truly vetted our budget line by line, item by item. As well as allowing us to communicate how much we have cut over the last several years from our budget and allowing us to be able to show how there really is no fat left to cut from our towns’ budget. We truly are down to the bone and any cuts we might need to make will then negatively impact the Cranbury experience we have all come to expect and love.

Today after a lengthy discussion and debate we were able to decide unanimously as a Township Committee that we would not reduce our Police force levels, keep in place the Recreation program funding, Drug and alcohol prevention program funding, Fireworks on the fourth of July funding, Fire department financial incentives for volunteers as well as the financial contribution to the first aid squad.

Funding these programs and services will however come at a cost and will require a tax increase.

The financial plan we have put in motion at least ensures we can maintain the services and programs that make Cranbury special for at minimum one more year. Though when making decisions we did, we did so with an eye towards our longer term future with a continued hope that the decisions we make now are best for our future. Much like the decisions we have made during my four years on the Township Committee.

As I have said before I certainly did not run to be on the Cranbury Township Committee to raise taxes. However I did run so that I could follow through on my commitment to do what it takes to keep Cranbury, Cranbury. I believe that is what we did today.

Please feel free to contact me directly with and question or comments at dmulligan@cranbury-nj.com

[anon-921r]

Thank you. As I posted prior, my view is that the TC did a good job with the budget.

I think what people need to factor in is that our home values while they may still not be at the peak are higher than a lot of neighboring towns because of our character- excellent schools, low crime, safe neighborhoods, community events, etc... The property taxes we pay are the investment we make in our homes to keep their values. If we cut one of those elements and crime goes up, the schools suffer, etc... then our property values are affected. I had to buy elsewhere before I could afford Cranbury as my first home was $350K and there were almost no homes at that price point in Cranbury.

It's hard to look at taxes as an investment, but it is at the local level. As we progress up to the county and state, there is diminishing return. But, locally our taxes go to establishing the town values and if done right making it an attractive locale for future home buyers.


PS- I heard at today's meeting that the average home pays 62 cents (yes, cents) a month for a police officer (salary and benefits). So for less than the cost of the NY Post one day (1.00) I get an officer on the street. That is not a bad ROI.

[thank you-8q9r]

Thank you Dan and the other members of our town council. All of you do a great job.

[math?-rrq7]

[anon-921r]

There are also businesses that pay property taxes. The cost per warehouse is higher.

[anon-1254]

Good point. The businesses, including, the warehouses pay a large portion of taxes, roughly half. We are fortunate but there are downsides...their assessment values are still leveling out thus contributing to lower than anticipated tax basis. We know our residential values are recovering...so this will correct itself. Another "downside" is that these taxpayers also deserve police protection.

[anon-97on]

[anon-921r]

If you want the math call Denise Marabello or a TC member. They all had spreadsheets showing the full cost. I trust their calculations more than trying to figure out the cost on my own as I don 'to know all the components.

[anon-44n0]

I support the Cranbury PD, but I do not agree that we need additional police officers.
And there are too many detectives. That investigate relatively ridiculous things, and/or do a horrible job investigating real crime.
Without opening a can of worms here with specific cases, maybe worth separate discussion here in this forum.

My two cents.
You can't just keep growing the municiplaity infrastructure disproportionately to the need and population.
Just too damn expensive.

Lower cost options exist.
Why isn't there a lower cost police auxilliary used in crabury, like I've seen in other towns. Graduated from acadamy, a fraction of the cost, and can do the relatively mundane traffic direction needed which seems to be a lot of what we are paying overall more than six figures per officer.

Use the seasoned well paid officers for patrol, and crime prevention.

I am sure there will be a ton of excuses we are special, or this just can't be done.

For once would like to see some original thinking on how we can save some money.

Interestingly enough,
Taxes for family in neighboring town went down.

Please reconsider raising taxes. Again.

[anon-921r]

Did your family's taxes go down because their home value dropped? I have never seen a county or school tax rate drop. Those makeup most of the tax bill.

There are no additional officers being added, officers are just not being cut.

The traffic duty aside from the bridge (paid 50/50 town and county) is not paid by taxes.

[anon-1254]

Our tax rate is the lowest in the county. Mayor stated 1.83 for Cranbury.
Plainsboro 2.4. South Brunswick 4.5.

[anon-921r]

To add context if you have a home at the cranbury average 600k in these towns then you are paying over 14k in Plainsboro and over 20k in South Brunswick. This is why these towns want Cranbury's tax revenue to support services. The Plainsboro hospital will drain resources over time since it is not tax paying, South Brunswick has tremendous retail plus 130 and rt 1.

When papers cite tax bills for average properties they don't equalize home value to show it across rates. I can't imagine a 600k home with a 20k property tax bill.

Cranbury is very lucky.

[anon-opp6]

Hightstown tax bill went down. For family living there.
Blast all the off the cuff statistics you want.
It is getting more and more expensive to live in Cranbury and NJ period.

[anon-0qs4]

Its a shame the politicians we elected cannot get a handle on these high taxes. I did read what we did not cut in expenses.Does anyone know what the committee either cut or reduced as far as expenses?This home rule nonsense is a very costly extravagance.

[anon-60oq]

[anon-opp6]

I don't have time to attend these meetings, as the vas majority of the town does not. And how dare you turn this around to somehow blame us, the majority for not going to meetings and such.

I/we elect individuals and expect them to keep their campaign promises.

I/we expecrt them to do their job.

There are those of us who work very very hard to just get by to support their families and can't afford the irresponsible decisions made at local, county, state and federal level.

I do not have time to do our elected politicians jobs as well.

I will make time to see others get elected.