By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Budget woes and the perfect storm that ripped up the East Coast — and Lawrence, with it — were among the top news-makers in Lawrence for 2012.
Money problems started early in the year when a request to raise the municipal property tax rate by 9 cents — in addition to the 5-cent increase included in the 2012 budget — was rejected by voters in a special referendum in April.
The result was the layoff of 13 municipal employees.
The 2012 municipal budget called for a 5-cent property tax rate and no layoffs. But to stay within the 2-percent cap on municipal property tax rate increases, Township Council asked voters to approve the additional 9-cent tax rate increase — for a total tax rate increase of 14 cents.
Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun recommended the referendum to Township Council, citing the combination of a 2-percent cap on the increase in the municipal property tax rate and a declining property tax base. He said the additional tax rate increase was unrelated to spending, noting that the 2012 budget was proposed to increase by 1.14 percent.
The referendum sought to preserve about half of the $5.3 million surplus fund for use in future municipal budgets. The additional 9-cent municipal property tax would have generated about $2.2 million.
Township Council said that if the referendum failed, it would eliminate trash collection as a cost-saving measure to preserve the surplus fund, and institute a $336 annual fee for the service. But facing stiff opposition from residents, the council chose layoffs to stay within the 2-percent cap.
The layoffs, which included three police officers and other employees scattered throughout municipal offices, took effect in August.
Meanwhile, the Lawrence Township Board of Education’s 2012-13 operating budget was collateral damage to the failed municipal property tax rate increase vote.
The two questions — raising the municipal property tax rate by an additional 9 cents, and approving a $58 million tax levy to support the school district budget — were on the same ballot at the school board’s annual election in April.
Voters’ rejection of the school district’s tax levy sent the 2012-13 budget to Township Council for review, as required by law. School district officials were asking for a 3-cent increase in the school district property tax rate.
Township Council met with the Lawrence Township Board of Education at a special meeting and called for $700,000 in cuts. After some discussion, it was agreed to trim the budget by $500,000. School district officials had suggested $375,000 in cuts before the meeting.
The reduction in the school district’s operating budget and the tax levy to support it, shaved 1 cent off the proposed 3-cent increase in the school district property tax. The cuts made by the school district were not in line with those recommended by the governing body.
No staff layoffs were included in the school district’s revised budget.
And yet another spin-off of the financial woes was the Lawrence Township Board of Education’s decision last month to move the annual school board elections from April to November, putting it on the November general election ballot. The move also eliminates a public vote on the tax levy and the prospect of sending the school district budget to Township Council for review.
School board members said that while they were committed to seeking public input on the budget, eliminating a public vote on the tax levy would allow school district administrators and teachers to focus on education issues. They would not have to worry about preparing a backup budget plan in case it was voted down.
Moving the school board election to November also would encourage greater voter turnout.
But the top stories were not solely about budgets.
The past year marked the continuing saga of a controversial residential alcohol and drug detoxification center, proposed for an office park at 100 Federal City Road, which was rejected by the Zoning Board of Adjustment in 2011.
Applicants Simone Investment Group LLC and Sunrise Detoxification Center won a court battle to send the application back to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. But the board denied the use variance application again at its Nov. 14 meeting.
The application called for a 38-bed residential alcohol and drug detoxification center in the office park, which is owned by the Simone Investment Group LLC. A use variance was needed because a residential alcohol and drug detoxification center, which weans clients off the substances, is not a permitted use in the Professional Office zone. An outpatient facility is allowed.
A Mercer County Superior Court judge ruled that the proposed detoxification center is an inherently beneficial use, which is defined as a use that is considered to be of value to the community because it serves the public good.
And finally, the weather — Superstorm Sandy, that is.
The storm knocked down trees and knocked out power to every home and business in Lawrence Township in October. Electricity was restored to some neighborhoods within 48 hours, but it took one week or more for other neighborhoods to regain power.
The storm also caused municipal offices to close for two days, but public schools were closed for one week. The school district opened the doors to Lawrence High School for several hours during the day for residents who had no power and who wanted to get warm and charge their cell phones and other electronic devices. Township officials opened the Lawrence Senior Center toward the end of the week for the same purpose.
Police evacuated several motels on Brunswick Pike in advance of the storm, relocating the residents to safer locations in Trenton. The motels have flooded during previous hurricanes.
Senior citizens who live in the Brookshire, Carriage Park and Lawrence Plaza developments also were relocated because of the loss of utilities. Some found temporary housing with family or friends, and a handful were moved to the Howard Johnson Motor Lodge on Brunswick Pike.

