By STEVEN VIERA
Staff Writer
EAST BRUNSWICK — The Township Council approved a $63.1 million municipal budget for 2016 by a margin of three members in favor and two who opposed.
With last year’s budget totaling $59,471,313, the 2016 budget represents an increase of $3,647,566. East Brunswick Chief Financial Officer L. Mason Neely explained that the major factors that contributed to the increase are a $1.3 million service agreement with the East Brunswick Board of Education, a $1.1 million increase in the cost of health benefits and a $600,000 increase in expenses relating to pensions.
The budget includes a local tax levy of $38,258,440 as well as $4,174,164 in state aid and $2,500,000 of surplus being applied as revenue. According to Neely, the new tax rate in cents per $100 is $2.01, which is up $0.13, or 7 percent, from last year’s rate of $1.88 per $100.
Voting in favor of the budget during the June 13 meeting were Council President Michael Hughes and Councilwoman Camille Ferraro Clarke, both Republicans, and Democratic Councilwoman Denise Contrino.
Councilmen Michael Spadafino, a Democrat, and James Wendell, a Republican and his party’s candidate for mayor in November, voted against the budget, citing concerns over the size of the tax increase, a desire to further reduce expenses and transparency.
At the meeting, Neely said that reducing the tax rate by one penny would require reducing staff.
“It’s a large increase, and the responsibility of the council and the mayor is to try to do everything they can to not push the burden of taxes on the residents,” said Dr. Brad Cohen, a Democratic mayoral candidate. “I do not believe that the only way to reduce costs is to get rid of people, which was insinuated tonight.”
The day after the meeting on June 14, Cohen identified a $50,000 increase to pay for street lighting despite the installation of energy-efficient lights and $70,000 in legal fees to assist with a Route 18 redevelopment consultation as areas to reduce expenses without cutting services or employees. Cohen, who is a member of the Board of Education, explained that the $1.3 million in shared services between the board and the township will actually be completely repaid by the Board of Education.
Hughes, however, criticized Cohen for not presenting concrete suggestions for the budget at the meeting.
“Until you come with real recommendations and an itemized list, that’s a problem. That’s empty political rhetoric,” he said.
This November, in addition to the mayor’s office, both seats on the council held by Democrats are up for election. A sweep by Republicans would give them control of the mayor’s office as well as all seats on the council.
