Borough, township to review joint budget

Only five of 15 departments will see an increase under proposed plan.

By: David Campbell
   The governing bodies of Princeton Borough and Princeton Township, along with municipal department heads, are expected to meet this evening for their annual review of budgeting for shared services.
   The total for all agencies jointly funded by the borough and township is $7.42 million. Only five of the 15 services jointly funded by the borough and township are considering increases in their budgets over 2004 levels, Borough Administrator Robert Bruschi and Township Administrator James Pascale said.
   For example, the proposed $73,575 budget for animal control is down $6,362 from last year — the result of the borough changing insurance providers, according to a memorandum prepared by the administrators.
   Similarly, the proposed $386,028 budget for the Health Department, proposed $90,200 fire-facilities budget, and proposed $50,043 cable-television budget are all down from 2004 levels.
   The budget showing proposed increases are for the Environmental Commission, First Aid & Rescue Squad, Human Services, Planning Board and the Recreation Department, according to the memo. Mr. Pascale noted Monday that the proposed $1.1 million recreation budget is up $78,936 due to new park-maintenance activities. He said the proposed $169,643 first-aid budget is up $11,104 due to salary and per-diem adjustments.
   Borough Mayor Joseph O’Neill said Monday that the reductions asked for by the borough have largely been made, "so we expect pretty smooth sailing" at the meeting tonight, he said.
   The joint budgetary session is scheduled to begin at 6:30 tonight at Borough Hall.
   Township Deputy Mayor Bernard Miller, noting that many of the proposed joint budgets this year are down from last year, said, "We’ve worked very hard on the joint budgetary issues. Going in, unless there are surprises, we’re in good shape."
   Borough Councilman David Goldfarb, though, said he plans to seek further reductions where possible.
   One issue that may prompt some discussion is a proposed new cost-sharing formula for subsidized free parking at the borough’s municipal garage offered to patrons of the Princeton Public Library.
   The proposed library budget this year is $3.1 million, down $70,368 from last year. Under the proposed cost-share formula for subsidized free parking in the borough garage for library patrons, the cost would be split 50-50 by the two municipalities and would cover up to one hour of free parking, rather than the current two hours.
   Under last year’s arrangement, the split was derived from a formula for joint services that determines fair share based on total property-tax ratables in the two towns, of which about 69 percent is in the township.
   "I’m not sure that there is an agreement at this point, although there may be one by the time of the meeting," Mr. Goldfarb said Monday.
   Deputy Mayor Miller said Monday: "It was my understanding we had an agreement. If the borough is not able to sustain that, then it will be a matter for discussion."