| The former Mayor may have had poor accounting practices and he did leave office with a deficit.
What I outline below are the statements from John Bencivengo that I believe supports my stance that a 33% permanent tax in the amount of $13.3 million was not necessary. I would not have voted for it. Instead, I would have insisted on a temporary tax increase - a one year event.
I also take the position that the furloughs of police officers and other Township employees was unnecessary. Given the failure to properly plow our streets last winter, the delays in leaf pick-up and Xmas Tree pick-up, the need to call in about a pot hole instead of proactiveness from PW to find and repair potholes, etc. I also question the need and wisdom to lay-off 27 people
Here in chronological order are statements from John Bencivengo from four of his Budget Messages - 2009 thru 2011 (he did two budgets this year).
Gilmore's last budget was $80 million.
The 2008 budget (JB's first) was $90 million.
From the 2009 Budget published at www.hamiltonnj.com
2009 Budget $94,207,813.92 (later ammended to $94,370,827.11)
Compared to last year the budget increased by $4.8 million
Found on page 7 of 64 in Budget package
http://www.hamiltonnj.com/file...
inspection fees were increased which will result in an additional $1 million in revenue
Found on page 8 of 64
http://www.hamiltonnj.com/file...
Overstaffing was identified and postion were eliminated. As a result 28 positions were eliminated and other postions were downgraded resulting in a savings of $2.2 million.
There were a total of 55 postions eliminated, of which 27 were lay-offs.
Found on Page 8 of 64
http://www.hamiltonnj.com/file...
There has been enough of an impact from these endeavors that only a modest tax increase of $.01 will be required to balance the FY09 Budget.
So much for JB's and his team's mantra of "no Tax increase for 4 budgets". A penny is small, but it amounts to a $5.3 million tax hike too.
Please keep in mind that there was a $13.3 million permanent tax hike in 2008.
Found on page 8 of 64
http://www.hamiltonnj.com/file...
From the 2010 Budget published at www.hamiltonnj.com
2010 Budget $96,115,444.92
For the second fiscal year in a row there will be no increase in municipal property taxes. All residents will pay the same amount for municiipal taxes as they did in Fiscal Year 2009
They raised taxes in 2009, though? That's what JB said in his 2009 budget message as cited above and in the link to his Budget Message.
From page 6 of 72
http://www.hamiltonnj.com/file...
In addition, for the first time in memory the total amount of tax rateables has decreased by $2 miillion.
I am well aware that we were in the middle of the recession at this period. However, his $13.3 million permanent tax hike was not helping the situation.
Found on page 8 of 72
http://www.hamiltonnj.com/file...
2011 Budget $99,258,191.26
Found on page 6 of 586
http://www.hamiltonnj.com/file...
Summary
This election year JB has departed from his $5 million, $10 million and other deficit claims and is going with inheriting a $16 million deficit. OK (not really), for arguments sake we'll go with what I believe to be an exaggeration.
Below, starting with a negative $16 million, I add all of the savings components and the tax increases to see if it balances out...it doesn't.
2008 Deficit - $16 million (one-time)
2008 Tax Hike +$13.3 million (4 times)
2008 Inspec Fees +$1 million (4 times)
2008 Lay-offs +2.2 million (4 times)
2009 Tax Hike +5.3 million (3 times)
Total $65.9 Million in added revenues.
From the $65.9 million we take out the $20 million in added spending cited above and are left with $45.9 million.
From the $49.5 million we take out the $5 million in lost aide and Energy Receipts and are left with $45.9 million.
Where is it? Where is the $45.9 million? It is not in snow removal and it is certainly not in pothole repair. It is not in new and updated corner nor mid-block cross walks located at our schools and our retail areas. I do not see it in a Complete Streets program or new streetscaping.
And when one goes through JB's own budgets it is obvious that two tax increases were overkill and unnecessary - especially in the middle of a recession which makes them reckless. |
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