Should We Make Cuts to the Proposed 2007 Municipal Budget?

Special Meeting!
Municipal Budget Review
Asbury Park City Council Chambers
Friday, June 15, 2007
9am – 4pm

Dear Friends of Asbury Park:

At the May 23, 2007 Regular Meeting of the Asbury Park City Council, the 2007 Municipal Budget was introduced. The proposed 2007 budget is $35.4 million dollars. To generate the revenue needed to cover this budget, it has been proposed that taxes be increased by 5% above the current rate.

When the budget introduction was put to the floor for a vote, I asked the following questions:

What does a 5% tax increase mean for the average homeowner?
Here is an example to answer this question. If someone's home was assessed at $150,000, the 5% increase in their tax bill would amount to roughly $180.

What does this increase represent in real dollar terms in the budget?
There is currently a revenue shortfall of $500,000 for the proposed 2007 budget. It is being proposed that this shortfall be made up by the 5% tax increase.

What cuts (if any) have been made by our respective departments?
The staff was not prepared to answer this question at the May 23rd meeting.

In light of the answers given to my questions, I made the comment that I did not think it was fair for the taxpayers of Asbury Park to be burdened with a 5% tax increase without a complete justification of the increased spending by our City Departments. I then asked my colleagues if they were interested in having each department walk us through their proposed budget. The entire Council agreed this was a good idea and we are having a special public meeting tomorrow to go through this process.

Once we review the budget, we must decide as a community:

Are we willing to pay 5% more in taxes to cover the costs of what is being proposed by our City Departments?

If we are not willing to pay 5% more, is there a way to generate revenue from other sources to cover the increase?

If we are not willing to pay 5% more, and there are no other sources of revenue, what do we want to cut from the proposed budget?

In order to answer these questions, it will be important for as many citizens as possible to be informed about the budget. I know that a 9am meeting on a Friday is not the most convenient, but I hope that people can attend and give their input. I have included the meeting agenda below for your convenience.

Peace,

Councilman Jim Keady

Special Meeting
Municipal Budget Review
Asbury Park City Council Chambers
Friday, June 15, 2007
9am – 4pm

9:00 a.m. Building & Housing
9:30 a.m. Police Department
10:00 a.m. Fire Department
10:30 a.m. Public Maintenance
11:00 a.m. Community Development
11:30 p.m. Social Services
12:00 p.m. UEZ/Commerce
12:30 p.m. Library
1:00 p.m. Engineer
1:30 p.m. Redevelopment
2:00p.m. City Clerk
2:30 p.m. Municipal Court
3:00 p.m. Recreation
3:30 p.m. Finance