Hightstown residents raise concerns over 18-cent increase in municipal property tax rate during public hearing at Borough Council meeting.
By: David Pescatore
HIGHTSTOWN Residents on Monday questioned whether the Borough Council had done enough to reduce its $5.2 million budget as the plan, which calls for an 18-cent increase in the municipal property tax rate, was raised for public comment.
Jim Jurgens, a South Main Street resident and Republican candidate for council, asked if the borough had considered asking union employees for a "giveback" of negotiated pay increases to reduce the $120,000 increase in salaries and wages.
Mr. Jurgens said corporations sometimes request unions to forgo pay increases during lean times with the promise of raises when situations improve.
"If we are to get through this crisis as a team, can’t we ask the members of our family for help?" he asked.
Borough Administrator Candace Gallagher said that the borough had not made a request to cancel or delay planned pay raises.
Mayor Bob Patten defended the borough for not requesting to freeze pay rates.
"Hightstown is not Chrysler," he said in reference to an earlier mention of then-Chrysler executive Lee Iacocca’s 1980 rescue of the near-bankrupt automobile manufacturer, which included layoffs, pay cuts and government loans.
"We make decisions for the best of all of Hightstown, including employees," the mayor said.
Former Councilman Gene Sarafin noted that the borough had considered laying off police officers, but relented after "the place filled with policemen."
Council President Larry Quattrone, who had suggested reducing the workforce, said the council could consider asking to delay raises if it were clear when the current economic difficulties would pass.
"If I knew how long the problem would last, it would be easy to do," he said. "But I don’t know how long it will be."
The problem will last forever, according to former Mayor Scott Caster, unless the council "puts its foot down" and reduces spending.
"Say ‘No’ a little more often," he suggested.
But Mr. Caster also commended the council for navigating a "tough road" with its "back against the wall."
Finally, Mr. Caster called on the public to offer more input on financial matters.
"I believe the council gets its energy from the public and the public is not feeding (it) all of the power they have," he said. "More people are concerned with cats than their tax bills."
The borough will not formally adopt its budget until after the state rules on a $400,000 extraordinary aid application. If accepted, the increase in the borough’s tax rate would be reduced to less than one cent. The state could award any portion of the borough’s request.