Council cuts penny from proposed tax hike

2005 municipal budget introduced with 11 percent rate increase.

By: Lea Kahn
   Township Council introduced its proposed $34.8 million budget for 2005 Tuesday — despite objections from a handful of residents who oppose the proposed 11 percent tax rate increase and the elimination of a police lieutenant’s position.
   The council voted 3-1 to introduce the budget, which carries a 6-cent municipal property tax rate increase instead of the 7-cent increase previously discussed. A last-minute infusion of money this week allowed Township Council to reduce the proposed tax rate hike from 7 cents to 6 cents. The township received a $140,000 federal Homeland Security grant, and also picked up $160,595 in unpaid taxes on the Chronar Corp. property on Lawrence Station Road, Municipal Manager William Guhl said.
   Mayor Pam Mount and Councilmen Michael Powers and Greg Puliti — all Democrats — voted for the budget. Councilman Rick Miller, the lone Republican on the council, voted against it. Councilman Mark Holmes was absent.
   A public hearing on the budget is set for Township Council’s May 3 meeting.
   Mr. Miller said he voted against the budget introduction because "we could do better." He said the council could have incorporated several cost-savings measures that he offered earlier this month, which would have saved an additional 3 cents. Those suggestions ranged from salary freezes for administrators earning more than $100,000 to requiring department heads to cut their budgets.
   The original budget called for a 9-cent municipal tax rate increase, but Township Council reduced it by 2 cents last week by eliminating several vacant positions, cutting back on the budget for special events, and using more money from the surplus fund.
   A municipal tax rate of 62 cents per $100 of assessed value means the owner of a house assessed at the township average of $163,000 would pay $1,011 in property taxes for 2005. This is an increase of $98 over the 2004 municipal tax bill of $913 for the same property.
   During the public participation portion of the meeting, several residents called on Township Council to reconsider the property tax rate increase and its decision to eliminate the police lieutenant’s position.
   Betty Buchanan of Lumar Road said she believes Township Council tries to keep property taxes as low as possible, but she is concerned about the plans to eliminate the police lieutenant’s position. The job has been vacant since police Lt. William C. Nestor III retired earlier this year.
   Crime in Lawrence is going up, and the Police Department needs the lieutenant’s position, Ms. Buchanan said. In this day and time, no one knows what’s going to happen so it is important to have as many police officers as possible, she said.
   Patrolman James Smith, vice president of Police Benevolent Association Local 119, also called on the council to preserve the police lieutenant’s job.
   Every police officer goes up the chain of command — patrolmen to sergeants, sergeants to lieutenants — when there is a question, he said.
   "If you don’t think it’s important, try going up the stairs and missing a step," Patrolman Smith said. "All we are asking is for you to sit down and discuss it with us — the police chief and the PBA representative — before you eliminate a position that is desperately needed."
   Meanwhile, Maple Avenue resident Paul Mott said he was "disappointed" that only 1 cent was shaved from the proposed property tax increase.
   Mr. Mott said it was "shameful" that only a handful of residents attended Township Council’s budget meetings, other than himself.
   Peter Radice Jr. of Dennick Court said the taxpayers would not look kindly on the tax rate increase.
   "They have the opportunity to correct it at the ballot box," Mr. Radice said. "I think it is incumbent on us to consider the taxpayers. I rode from Carter Road to Town Hall, and I saw five houses for sale. That is not a good sign. We can’t continue to spend more than we can afford."
   Carole Harle of Review Avenue, who is a former mayor and Township Council member, said people have called her to express concern about the property tax rate increase. People who are living on a fixed income are finding it difficult to manage, she said. Township Council could have incorporated some of Mr. Miller’s cost-saving suggestions into the budget.
   In other business, plans to renovate the Municipal Building have been put on hold for several weeks, after a $1.2 million bond ordinance that would have provided additional money to renovate the Municipal Building was not adopted.
   Mayor Mount and Mr. Powers and Mr. Puliti voted to approve the bond ordinance following a public hearing on it, but Mr. Miller voted against it. Mr. Holmes was absent. Bond ordinances require four "yes" votes to pass.
   Mr. Guhl said the bond ordinance would be placed on Township Council’s April 20 agenda, and the process would have to begin again. If the bond ordinance is introduced on April 20, a public hearing and final action on it would occur in May, he said. Bids for the project would be awarded in June.