“The borough administrator has already begun the process of seeking cuts from every department,” said Mayor Thomas Vahalla at the Jan. 5 reorganization meeting of the Metuchen Borough Council. “With the state and nation mired in a deep recession and the outlook for 2009 glum, maintaining or improving services and protecting our property values will be the ultimate challenge.”
Vahalla said that New Jersey, along with the rest of the country, is in a period of “economic crisis.”
“Last year was the worst year for the stock market since the 1930s,” he said. “Our country has endured at least 10 straight months of lost jobs. The housing market is in turmoil caused by tight credit and record declines in home values.”
According to the mayor, all line items and department areas will be carefully examined throughout the budget process.
“Department heads and directors will be required to submit budget requests to the borough administrator, and those requests will be subject to council review,” Vahalla said. “A schedule will be prepared by the borough administrator and presented to the council in order to set up review dates and times.”
In 2008, the total of grants and aid received by Metuchen was in excess of $1.4 million, but Vahalla said that it would be unlikely that the “ailing” state budget would provide aid equal to or even close to what Metuchen received last year.
“We will apply for and work hard to get our fair share of aid, but we must brace for more budget cuts,” Vahalla said. “I assure you that any new budget program or service will fulfill a bonafide need and will be funded with clearly identified sources of revenue.”
The mayor highlighted plans for the construction of the District at Metuchen.
“The Renaissance development will provide Metuchen with a grocery store, improved traffic patterns, and synchronized lights, and create an $80 million ratable, an asset our borough sorely needs,” he said.
The borough will also examine ways to save money through other efficiencies.
“We must also re-evaluate and study the possibility of refinancing bonds and notes to take advantage of the lower interest rates,” Vahalla said. “This year we must encourage more efficient recycling, re-evaluate our bulk pick-up and schedule of charges, and continue to emphasize volunteerism.”
To reward volunteers, the mayor proposed that fees such as dog and cat licenses, pool fees, marriage license fees and fees for local recreational events should be eliminated for volunteers and members in good standing of the fire department, auxiliary police, and first aid squad.
In closing, Vahalla also noted that 2009 would bring a continued effort to make Metuchen government more transparent.
“Ordinances should now be accompanied with a short synopsis describing where the ordinance originated and what changes the ordinance will address,” he said.
