FREEHOLD – A $423,500 budget to support Downtown Freehold’s operation for 2018-19 has been proposed by the organization.
Downtown Freehold, a nonprofit organization, is the management corporation of Freehold Borough’s Special Improvement District. The organization produces annual events in the borough.
The budget was submitted by representatives of Downtown Freehold to the Borough Council for introduction and adoption. A resolution to accept and introduce the Downtown Freehold budget appeared before council members on April 16.
The council did not vote to introduce the budget because there were not enough eligible voting members present. Of the council members eligible to vote on the budget, only three, council President Sharon Shutzer, Councilman Kevin Kane and Councilman Ron Griffiths, were present. Councilman George Schnurr and Councilman Jaye Sims were absent.
Councilman Michael DiBenedetto, who owns Joe’s Barber Shop in the Special Improvement District, and Mayor Nolan Higgins, who owns Higgins Memorial Home in the Special Improvement District, were not eligible to vote on the Downtown Freehold budget.
According to the resolution, the budget, if adopted, will fund the Special Improvement District from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019. The $423,500 budget will be supported by the collection of $245,000 in taxes from property owners and business operators in the Special Improvement District.
In addition to the $245,000 tax levy, potential sponsorship income of $164,000 ($113,000 in cash, $51,000 in barter) and event income of $14,500 will provide the revenue for the budget.
Expenses are $211,600 in member services ($175,600 cash, $36,000 barter), $116,250 in events ($101,250 cash, $15,000 barter), $86,650 in improvements and $9,000 in donations to local events.
Downtown Freehold’s 2017-18 budget totaled $401,000 and was also supported by the collection of $245,000 in taxes from property owners and business operators in the Special Improvement District.
In other business, council members authorized the Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division to conduct aerial mosquito control operations in the borough. The division will apply pesticides by aircraft for mosquito control in certain areas of Freehold Borough designated by the county as larval mosquito habitats or areas harboring high populations of mosquitoes constituting either a nuisance, a health hazard or both, according to a resolution.
And, council members passed a resolution confirming the resignation of Paul Jensen as a member of the Recreation Commission; the appointment of Jamie Corbett as a member of the Participatory Budget Committee; and the appointment of Scott Corbett as a member of the Participatory Budget Committee.
