Letter to the Editor: FW Council Member Discusses the 2010 Budget

As a member of the Fanwood Council and Chairman of the Administration and Finance Committee who, along with council members Joan Wheeler and Russell Huegel, Borough CFO Fred Tompkins, and Borough Administrator Eleanor McGovern, I worked very hard on the budget this year. Our goal was to minimize the tax burden on our residents without reducing services. Although municipal taxes are the smallest part of the overall tax levy, we looked at every line item in the municipal budget and made reductions wherever possible. 

Despite the reduction in state aid for municipalities this year ($194,162) we managed to hold the 2010 Fanwood Municipal Budget to a 3.6 percent increase or $78.64 per average household. These savings, however, did not result in much relief to taxpayers because of the extent of the school ($422.50) and county ($117.51) budgets on tax bills.   

The work of the Administration and Finance Committee is an ongoing process. We not only make up the budget but we continue to have discussions and make changes to enhance the efficiency of each department throughout the year. This year, among other things, we added a Purchasing Agent position, at no additional cost in salary or benefits, to centralize purchasing so we can get the best possible price for goods and services. We also made suggestions to the police and public works departments to make changes in their work schedules that will reduce overtime costs. These decisions have immediate and long-term effects on our municipal budgets.    

Currently we are working with the Administrative Offices where we expect to improve services, provide convenient working hours to better accommodate our residents, and do it all with a substantial cost savings to taxpayers. We will report progress as it unfolds.   

I want Fanwood residents to know that the Committee wants to advance by providing services while at the same time keep operating costs as low as possible, especially during these economically difficult times. The year 2011 will be especially challenging because of the state mandated 2 percent cap on municipal budgets. Although we will continue looking for cost savings in the borough budget, the future lies in the fate of the 33 bills in Governor Christie's proposed "toolkit" for municipal and county governments. The "toolkit" is necessary to help address the property tax cap so I suggest that you contact our legislative representatives and urge them to quickly act on these important bills. 

To be effective we have to plan for the future and only consider projects we can afford and not engage in "do now and pay later" programs.  We fully realize if we want to maintain, continue, or provide new services we have to be sure we have the finances to do so. 

Tony Parenti

Councilman, Borough of Fanwood