PLUMSTED – The township’s spending plan was introduced and the proposed budget will not increase the municipal tax rate.
The total budget is $6,865,095.39. The amount to be raised by taxes is $2,491,032.31.
Mayor Dominick Cuozzo called upon Township Attorney Jean Cipriani to read the budget introduction into the record.
The mayor explained “our budget went from $6.5 million to $6.8 million. The cost of doing business for the town increased by about $300,000 and were able to anticipate revenue with the PILOT program – none of which has hit yet but we were able to anticipate revenue from it at $250,000 so it took some real work for us to hone things down at another $50,000 to really balance things.”
Committeeman Leonard Grilletto, who chairs the committee’s finance sub-committee said, “I discussed it with our accountant and in my judgement, it is a sound way of managing our funds.”
“We were able to keep all our contracts and we have been increasing our contracts with the police force and with our heads of departments. There was an increase in their salaries as far as this budget but the cost of living and inflation as everybody knows, things are more expensive,” the mayor commented.
Copies of the budget will be available in the office of the Municipal Clerk at the Municipal Building located at 121 Evergreen Road during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Committeeman Robert Bowen voted against the budget’s introduction. The remaining members approved it. “I voted against introduction because the proposed budget increases expenses by $425,272.58 (6.6 percent) and increases the amount from taxes and PILOT fees by $258,930.09 (10.4 percent).”
“While the $250,000 in PILOT fees (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes by residents in the Lennar development) have already been collected, this is the first time these funds have been used to balance our township budget. Rather than one-time budget fixes, we should control our expenses and invest the PILOT funds in long-term tax and PILOT fee relief; strengthen the Plumsted Municipal Utilities Authority; redevelop Main Street; repave our roads and correct drainage problems; upgrade our recreation facilities and open spaces; increase our funding for the Plumsted Township Police Department, Plumsted Township Fire District #1, and Plumsted Township EMS Services,” Bowen added.
Bowen also wanted to see the governing body “provide meaningful support to our school district. Invest for tomorrow instead of spending for today.”
Specific line-item increases concerning this year’s budget showed that Legal Services and Costs jumped from $100,000 to $200,000. Engineering Services and Costs increased from $20,000 to $66,600 and Public Building and Grounds Salaries and Wages rose from $47,000 to $80,000 (one full-time salary was added to hire a full-time business administrator).
The public hearing on the budget will be held at Town Hall at 7 p.m. on June 6, at which time objections or questions concerning the annual budget can be presented to the Township Committee.
Resignations
Township Committee members noted that there were three township employee resignations on the May Township Committee meeting agenda. They included township employee typist Pamela Lee, township police officer Griffin DuBlois and longtime township Chief Finance Officer Sharon Gower who accepted a new position in another municipality.
The mayor said Gower “functioned very, very well as our CFO and she put a lot of hard work into this budget. I am very grateful to all our employees.”
He noted officer DuBlois had handled a problem of illegally dumped Christmas trees early in the new year. “I am very sad to see him go. He was a very good officer.”
The mayor noted that Gower would be helping on a part-time basis with the transition of her position.
“I regret all three are resigning and especially Sharon Gower. I met Sharon 10 years ago when she came here. She has become a fine CFO. I’ve consulted with her and so has our accountant Brian Logan who also has regrets that she is leaving and so do I, her attitude towards her job is amazing,” Grilletto remarked.
“They are all a loss. I wish them all the best and thank them for their service to Plumsted,” Bowen added.
“They will all be missed,” Deputy Mayor Herb Marinari said.
During a special meeting of the Committee held on the afternoon of May 14, resolutions were passed authorizing a shared services agreement between the township and Barnegat Township for chief financial officer services, payment of Gower’s unused leave time and appointing her as a part-time clerk for the township.
Dylan Smoot was appointed as a full-time general maintenance laborer and Kara Vrabel was appointed as a full-time assistant treasurer during the special meeting.
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