The township budget is reviewed by the Local Government Budget Review Office.
By: David Weinstein
Despite the high level of service Princeton Township provides to its citizens, almost $2 million could have been trimmed from its $21.4 million municipal budget in 1998, according to a report issued by the state’s Local Government Budget Review office Monday night.
The review, detailed for the Township Committee by the deputy director of the office, JoAnne Palmer, itemized more than $630,000 in one-time savings, along with $1.36 million in annual savings the township could have achieved, through cost-cutting and department consolidation measures.
Furthermore, the nearly $2 million does not take into account almost $300,000 tied to negotiations and collective bargaining potential within township departments, or $1.3 million in potential savings related to a complete consolidation of municipal governments with Princeton Borough, the review found.
While these recommendations cannot be accomplished immediately, said Ms. Palmer, the estimates are conservative and achievable.
"Our ultimate goal is to provide assistance to local governments that result in meaningful property tax relief," she said.
The township, along with Princeton Borough and the Princeton Regional School District, agreed to a voluntary review of its annual budget by the state office in 1998. Princeton Township was the last of the three bodies to receive its review. Princeton Borough was told last week that it could save at least $1.7 million by consolidating some services and departments.
Just two Township Committee members received the review prior to Monday’s meeting.
"This is a very thorough review," said Committeeman Steve Frakt, who said he perused it before the meeting.
"It’s food for thought, and there are many issues to examine," he said. "This is win-win for everyone. This review pinpoints for us things we should be looking at to change, or to justify why we do things how we are doing them.
"I think we accept this review in a positive light and we’ll see whether we can move forward on some of these suggestions, and see if they are right for our community," Mr. Frakt said.
Ms. Palmer said because the township is well-run, many of the most significant recommendations, such as municipal consolidation, have already been considered and rejected. But, she said, the value of the review is in showing the cost of those decisions and in documenting what exists.
She said her office identified several best practices during its review of township government, including aggressive capital improvement activity relating to sewer reconstruction that will save the taxpayers about $2.5 million over the expected life of the projects completed through 1998.
While Ms. Palmer said the township has been proactive in identifying shared-service opportunities with the borough and other entities, the most significant cost-saving recommendations involve further consolidation or regionalization of critical municipal functions.
According to the review, this includes a savings of $936,832 if the township and borough merged police departments.
Merging the Princeton Public Library with the Mercer County system could save the township $206,570, and merging the two municipalities’ courts would engender a $53,010 savings in township spending, the review said.
Bringing together the Public Works departments of the two municipalities would save the township an additional $79,250 annually, according to the review.
The review also recommends that the Princetons, which share fire services, close one of their three fire stations and have two companies share the Mercer Engine Company No. 3 station house on Witherspoon Street. This would produce a township savings of $671,328, the review said.
Ms. Palmer commended the township and the borough for their long history of shared services, something she said undoubtedly brings about high- quality service. Together, the two Princetons provide 17 shared municipal services, she noted.
In other business, Township Attorney Edwin Schmierer said an agreement in principle has been reached among the township, Princeton Borough and PSE&G concerning an environmental site remediation at the library site on Witherspoon Street.
The committee unanimously approved a resolution Monday night that generally outlines the nature and scope of the work PSE&G will undertake at the library site, as well as adjacent lots owned by the borough.
The Princeton Borough Council adopted a similar resolution Aug. 22.