Borough Council approves changes to municipal budget

Despite $81,000 in additional expenses, total spending below last year’s level.

By: Marjorie Censer
   The Princeton Borough Council on Tuesday night approved an amendment to the 2005 municipal budget that accounts for about $81,000 in additional expenses.
   The amendment passed 5-1, with Councilman David Goldfarb dissenting.
   Borough Administrator Robert Bruschi explained the changes at the meeting and clarified that the overall municipal budget would remain lower than last year’s budget. The increased expenses primarily result from a new state regulation requiring enhanced street sweeping as part of new state stormwater controls.
   To offset the additional cost, Mr. Bruschi said, the new municipal budget includes a recently received grant of $70,000 from the Department of Homeland Security as well as several other changes. The total budget will be $21,944,179 — $230 less than last year, Mr. Bruschi said in an interview Thursday.
   The municipal budget also includes a 5-cent tax increase, down from the 12-cent increase last year. Mr. Bruschi noted that the budget allows for a reduced reliance on the surplus. As of Thursday, he said, the surplus is about $1.7 million, of which $1.3 million will be spent in the budget.
   Though Councilman Roger Martindell said he supported the tax increase and the budget amendment, he may ultimately vote against the budget because of his concerns about the library. Mr. Martindell said his concerns stem from the Princeton Public Library not planning to spend any of its endowment funding this year.
   Mr. Goldfarb said he also would not approve the budget because of the tax increase. He argued that the borough should not increase taxes over 4 cents in order to provide for the surplus.
   "There’s no need to stockpile even more by asking our taxpayers to pay more than is absolutely necessary," Mr. Goldfarb said. "In this case, it’s not necessary to do that, and because it’s not necessary, I don’t think it’s defensible."
   Councilwoman Peggy Karcher disagreed and said she would support the budget.
   "I don’t think we should be looking to lower the tax rate," she said. "I believe that’s how we’ve gotten ourselves in trouble over the years."
   The budget will come before the council at Tuesday’s meeting for a final vote.
   In other business, the council unanimously approved an ordinance that will increase the annual licensing fees for liquor stores as well as bars and restaurants that serve alcohol in the borough.
   Affordable-housing consultant Shirley Bishop also presented a report to the council. She advised its members of the responsibility in the next 10 years to provide affordable housing in accordance with growth share and job increases.
   Gary DeBlasio, executive director of Corner House — a nonprofit counseling center for teens and families, presented the final report of the evening. He was joined by representatives of Princeton University and its student eating clubs.
   Mr. DeBlasio updated the council members of recent efforts by Corner House to curb underage alcohol and drug abuse and emphasized its increased cooperation with the university. He said Corner House provided alcohol counseling to 24 university students in 2004 and has treated 25 students in 2005. He added that university students have served as mentors to high school students and have chaperoned Corner House events.
   Brian McKenna, InterClub Council adviser; Sam Bliss, one of the university representatives to PADA; and Jamal Motlagh, InterClub Council president and Quadrangle Club president, spoke of the eating clubs’ efforts to sponsor more alcohol-free events.
   Mr. McKenna called the Prospect Initiative, a program in which each club hosts an alcohol-free event over the course of the semester, "incredibly successful so far."
   Mr. Bliss said the clubs were taking responsibility for following up on the promises made to the council in 2003. Both he and Mr. McKenna spoke of the use of wristbands to ensure only those of legal drinking age are served and of the presence of soda machines in tap rooms.
   "We’re trying to do our best to live up to our agreements and keep things under control," Mr. Bliss said.
   University Vice President for Campus Life Janet Dickerson spoke, as did Chief Medical Officer Daniel Silverman and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Hilary Herbold. All emphasized the strides the university has made to coordinate its efforts, both within the University groups and with Corner House.