Councilman reminds residents about budget hearing

On April 7 at 6 p.m., there will be a public hearing of Freehold Borough’s 2004 budget at borough hall. The budget will propose an increase in house taxes of about 3.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The principal "drivers" behind the proposed increase are:

• LOSAP (Length of Service Award Program) for the borough’s firefighters, $120,750. This was a referendum item that was approved by the voters by a two-to-one margin on Election Day 2003.

• The hiring of two police officers.

• The hiring of two code enforcement officers

• $50,000 into the police pension fund — something the borough has not had to do for over two years.

• An increase of about $140,000 for all types of insurance. The borough’s total insurance budget is estimated at over $1.2 million.

While cost increases of any amount are regrettable, we must realize the facts of life. They happen to us personally, and they happen to us as members of a community. We will continue to look for ways to offset cost increases. Be there on April 7. It’s your municipal budget.

Robert Crawford

Councilman

Freehold Borough