The Hazlet Township Sewerage Authority has been an essential part of our township for many years. I take great comfort in knowing what gets flushed stays flushed. Now, the Township Committee’s Democratic leadership is attempting to dissolve the authority and replace it with a municipal utility, under the pretext of saving money.
The authority is operated as a separate entity with its own budget, much like the school board. A panel of five appointed residents oversee the staff of four full-time employees and one part-time employee. The Democrats have said the authority is "wasteful, and a duplication of effort." A review of the authority’s functions and its 2002 budget seems to tell a different story.
The total budget for 2002 was approximately $4.4 million. The largest portion of this money goes directly to the County Outfall Authority. This amounts to $3.485 million, or almost 79 percent of the total budget. The amount Hazlet pays to these entities is not going to be reduced — in fact, this amount reflects a $102,000 increase over 2002. There are absolutely no savings here.
Approximately $453,000 — or 10 percent of the total budget — is listed as general and administration. This includes all salaries, as well as office and pump station costs.
No matter what happens, the township still needs people to process the bills, balance the books and — most important — work on the lines. Whether we have an authority or a utility, these jobs still need to be done, an office and records must be kept, and the pump stations maintained. There do not seem to be any savings here.
Debt service accounts for another $411,000, or 9.2 percent. If the authority is dissolved, guess who has to pay the outstanding bonds and coupons? That’s right, the township. In fact, an ordinance was introduced to bond for more than $3 million to cover this debt. Where are the savings in that?
Line maintenance costs $77,000 (1.7 percent), and is on a cycle that cleans the entire system over the course of five years. Once again, this job still needs to be done, so there are no savings here, either.
The Township Committee has already spent more than $6,000 on audits, has authorized another $27,000 in professional fees to finish the job, and is prepared to bond for $3 million in additional debt. Without a clear picture of the projected saving, and no plan to assimilate the functions of the authority into the township, this money has been wasted — definitely no savings here.
More than $100,000 in savings must be realized to reduce your tax bill by one penny. The most current projected savings are around $75,000 for the first year only. Continuing to spend money in an effort to find minimal — if any — savings in itself seems "wasteful, and a duplication of effort."
We have an appointed board of residents to watch over this entity and ensure its successful operation.
If they continue to do their jobs as well as their predecessors have, the Hazlet Township Sewerage Authority will remain the efficient, well-run organization we have always relied upon.
Rich Kohler
Hazlet