By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
At the only forum for the Princeton Borough mayoral candidates, the candidates discussed their positions on the biggest issue of the election: consolidation.
Until now, the candidates have avoided the question.
Each candidate was given three minutes to offer their stance on the issue that, if passed, could make them a one-year, lame duck mayor or if voted down, would leave them leading a community that will need to work with it’s rejected neighbor.
Republican Jill Jachera, a newcomer to Princeton Borough when compared with Democratic challenger Yina Moore’s family roots that go back to 1896, got to answer the question first.
”Consolidation is a very difficult topic,” said Ms. Jachera, who studied the issue over the summer. “The more I studied it, the more complex it has gotten.”
”It definitely is an important decision,” Ms. Moore said. “It is complex and requires careful thought. I have stated in the past I am not convinced. Questions remain for me and they have yet to be answered.”
Without any successful examples to look at, there is a lot of controversial research out there, Ms. Jachera said.
”I personally would like to see the communities consolidate,” she said. “I think that would be a wonderful thing on many levels.”
But, when it comes to the benefits, she does have some questions about the communities being able to achieve all the benefits — some $3.2 million in savings achieved through efficiencies and some job elimination — -outlined in the Joint Shared Services Consolidation Commission’s (JSSCC) final report.
”That’s where I become a little bit of a pessimist,” she said. “One of the things I want to think about is how good government traditionally been at dialing back the needle on spending? I think most of you would agree that doesn’t happen.”
With the right people in office, spending can be cut, she said.
The budgeting process would be overhauled, beginning with a start from zero. “It means we start from scratch,” said Ms. Jachera. “We don’t just take the two budgets, lump them together and hope for the best because chances are, whatever we say will promptly be spent on something else.”
She would like to take a look at the budget on a zero basis, even if consolidation does not pass. Departments would have to develop strategic plans, identify their mission, what it costs to deliver that mission and how many people are required to deliver that mission. “That way we can determine how it’s best to bring together those departments and look for cost savings,” said Ms. Jachera. “Maybe we will find additional cost savings.”
But, Ms. Jachera would be looking to Princeton Township Mayor Chad Goerner for assurances the township would be willing to do that as part of the joint budgeting process.
”I would be much more likely to vote for consolidation,” she said. “I would like to do that.”
Ms. Moore also had some lingering questions. She wonders what consideration was given to the borough’s new Palmer Square residences that are coming online and the hospital site, which will be coming back onto the tax rolls when the hospital moves to Plainsboro next spring and vacates the site.
”These ongoing and upcoming revenues are, in essence, our dowry,” said Ms. Moore. “They would already significantly reduce borough taxes and then where are the annualized budgets … that show the expenses of the transition?”
She wonders how these influences on the budget would impact citizens on an annualized basis, saying the JSSCC failed to answer these questions and perform such analysis during the year of study it performed.
”What is the joint five-year plan that really ensures and guides us on a straight and agreed upon path and ensures we have savings in the third year and beyond?” she asked. “These seem to be the steps to make more accurate projections. It’s more or less a prenuptial agreement and it has not happened.”
”It’s clear to me there was never any prospect of love or money in this,” she said. “As a citizen and executive needing to make a decision, I want to know what those answers are.”
She wonders if the projected 5 percent overall savings the JSSCC estimates are worth the unknown loss of representation.
