Town budget to be introduced tonight

Back in May, the Cranford Township Committee agreed to slice $1.4 million from the municipal budget after individual department heads were told to pare down their spending plans.  

Now, after an extension, and much more discussion last night, the committee will introduce a municipal budget that will see taxes increased for individual homeowners by $202 on a home assessed at the average of $181,740.  

Originally, the plan was to introduce the creation of a new sewer fee, whereby residents would pay a separate sewer fee, as opposed to having it added to their tax bill, which would increase by $12, with the rest of the $202 average increase being paid to the sewer authority.  

The sewer fee  for the next fiscal year would amount to $190 for individual users.

One of the major setbacks earlier in the year came when the state decided to cut aid to municipalities, with Cranford losing close to $800,000 in the final tally.  

In the past few weeks, changes have been made to the budget which included decisions to leave vacant positions unfilled. There will also be no salary increase, and some employees will be furloughed for seven days.  

It has been reported that the union and the township's labor attorney were slated to meet today for further negotiations.

Tonight's meeting, where the township committee will introduce the budget, will begin at 8 p.m. in the municipal building, 8 Springfield Avenue.