Stop the insanity in Red Bank. I have read that the definition of insanity is doing the same bad thing over and over again …
According to the Red Bank Borough budget resolutions 04-206, 05-126, 06-175, 07-183 and 08-159, the borough of Red Bank has increased its budget by a whopping $3,972,353 in the short period of five years. Even more appalling is the fact that the increase in spending over the last two economically challenging years accounts for 73 percent, or $2,901,264, of that five-year-total increase. In addition to increasing our yearly spending like there’s no tomorrow, the leaders of this town have increased borrowed monies by $1,032,597 during this same fiveyear span.
Budgets are passed by the Red Bank Council members by a “majority” vote. In the last five years, the Democratic Council majority has always voted “yes” for the budget and the Republican “minority” has always voted “no.”
I bring up this point for one reason. The Red Bank Council currently has four Democrats and two Republicans. Those two Republican seats are up for election in November.
If Grace Cangemi and John Tyler, the two Republican Council candidates, are not elected, the Democrats’ “majority” vote in the Red Bank Council will become a “monopoly.”
Personally, I don’t want to see the Red Bank budget increased another dollar let alone another $2,901,264 in the next two years. I want to see spending stabilize or decrease, and the only chance to get this done is to continue to support the party that has repeatedly voted “no” to budget increases.
So, for me the choice is clear. If you are happy watching your local taxes increase due to higher spending approved by the Democratic council majority, vote for Lewis and Zipprich. If you feel Red Bank needs to maintain or decrease spending, vote for Cangemi and Tyler.
Unfortunately, even if Cangemi and Tyler are elected, budget increases will probably continue, since the Democrats will continue to enjoy a majority vote, but at least there will be two voices on the council screaming for responsible spending and calling out the excesses of the controlling party. Then, next election when two more council seats are up for grabs, perhaps real change can begin.
I am writing this in response to last week’s article about raises for Red Bank non-union employees, which as stated in the article equates to about $40,000-$50,000. What the article did not mention is that giving a 3.5 percent raise to every borough employee — which will happen, whether they are union or not — will cost the town $227,225 annually based upon the total 2008 budget for borough salaries of $6,492,144. Once again the council voted along political party lines, four (Democrats) to two (Republicans) to support the raises.
As many residents in the town would probably
agree, the issue is not with giving the town employees a raise, the issue is adding an annual expense to the borough budget without offsetting it somewhere else, especially when given the chance.
The Red Bank Borough Finance Committee had the chance to cut the 2008 budget more than the net $4,800 it did (when you take into consideration the $350,000 in extraordinary aid Red Bank received by the state) cut from the proposed version through final draft. Several borough departments cut their individual budgets and together decreased spending by around $115,000 before the final budget was adopted.
Unfortunately, the finance committee chose to take those dollars and redistributed them in the budget in the form of such things as a new summer food program ($45,630), legal services ($27,317) and gasoline ($57,537) rather than lowering our municipal tax rate.
If insanity is in fact doing the same bad thing over and over again, then the residents of Red Bank would be insane to elect two more Democrats for council knowing that every elected Democratic council member for the last five years has voted “yes” to the budget and to raising your local taxes.
If you feel spending in Red Bank has gotten out of control, vote Cangemi and Tyler for council on Election Day and work toward gaining a voice on controlled spending within your town. As residents and controllers of our own finances and budgets, we all find ways to reel in spending when the financial climate dictates. Is it too much to ask for our elected officials to do the same?
Kim Senkeleski is a resident of Red Bank