By Doug Carman, Staff Writer
HIGHTSTOWN More details and more criticism emerged as Hightstown Chief Financial Officer George Lang released a detailed budget to the public May 2.
Though the budget still calls for no property tax increase a first since 1997 for the borough some council members raised flags toward certain cuts for parks and recreation, while some residents alleged that they should have had a tax decrease given the cuts to the police department.
Rob Thibault, who is running for a council seat in November’s election as a Democrat, discussed the $54,000 decline in revenue from the municipal court a 19-percent drop from last year and the $46,400, or 3 percent, drop in salary expenses for the police department despite cutting three officers from the payroll this year.
”Where is all the money going? If we’re down (three) police officers, why are we only saving $46,000? I know they made a hell of a lot more than $10,000 each,” Mr. Thibault asked Mr. Lang and the council during public comment. The proposed $6.27 million budget for 2011, a slight decrease from the $6.31 million spent in 2010, reflects:
A $54,000 decline in municipal court revenues, which amounts to more than 19 percent of the court’s revenue.
The end of a $32,000 agreement to provide 9-1-1 services to Cranbury.
A nearly 9-percent reductionabout $9,700in community municipal property tax relief act (CMPTRA) aid from the state.
Among the cuts on the expenditure side are:
A $32,400 drop in salaries and wages for the municipal court, amounting to about 20 percent on the expense.
A $41,900 drop in the cost of the borough’s group insurance, which then-Borough Administrator Herbert Massa credited for the borough’s ability to avoid a tax hike this year.
A $46,400 drop in salaries and wages for the Hightstown Police Department after slashing three police positions.
A $36,000 reduction in salaries and wages for the Parks and Recreation department.
A combined $294,100 increase in contributions the borough will make to its public employee and police and fire pension funds, which means Hightstown is paying 2.4 times last year’s contribution of $205,300 to the two funds.
The Borough Council will have a workshop on the budget beginning 8 p.m. Tuesday.

