Stockton ponders budget needs

By: Linda Seida
   STOCKTON — Officials will try to prioritize the borough’s needs as they hammer out the budget in coming weeks.
   Decisions will be based on what the borough can comfortably afford on its relatively small budget, according to Mayor Gregg Rackin.
   The mayor could not quote dollar figures for the new budget yet. He emphasized the budget process is still in a very early stage.
   "Our budget is very small, so we have to be very careful when we allocate funds," he said.
   Last year’s budget totaled $404,519. The Borough Council passed an ordinance last month allowing an increase of $13,490 if it’s needed. The ordinance does not mandate the increase, according to the borough’s attorney, John Bennett.
   Will property taxes rise?
   "It would be premature to say that. It really depends on whatever we decide in the next couple of weeks," the mayor said. "The Finance Committee has a lot of work to do yet."
   The bottom line will depend on which projects the borough pursues in coming months.
   "We have to prioritize," Mayor Rackin said. "We’re relatively in good shape. Stockton has always been fiscally responsible. We’re carefully thoughtful about where and what we spend."
   "If we pick one or two projects to do every year, that’s a lot," said Council President Andrew Giannattasio, who also chairs the Finance Committee.
   Among the projects getting serious consideration are the borough’s sewer system and computerization of the tax office.
   Computerization will improve efficiency, the mayor said. The cost for the computer, software and training will be about $7,000, according to Mr. Giannattasio.
   The sewer project is a high priority, according to Mayor Rackin.
   "There’s a $1 million note on the sewer project. The sooner it’s done, the sooner we can release our debt," he said.
   Originally, Stockton approved borrowing $1 million for the sewer repairs. Currently, the cost is coming in well below that mark, at a little under $400,000.
   The process of fixing the borough’s sewer system began November 2000 when Stockton applied for state funds to finance repairs. By March 2002, repairs of leaky manholes and a portion of pipes were completed at a cost of about $130,000.
   During the following summer and fall, further investigation revealed the need to grout manholes to seal out water and clean out more pipes, a job that will cost between $30,000 and $40,000. The state Department of Environmental Protection is expected to approve the additional work in coming weeks, then the borough can award a contract, according to Jerry Harris, senior managing engineer with Applied Water Management Inc. of Hillsborough, the company that is acting as consultant on the sewer repairs.