PROPOSED TOWNSHIP BUDGET NEEDS NEARLY $700,000 IN CUTS

The Township Committee needs to reduce the proposed 2015 municipal budget by nearly $700,000 so that it is in compliance with the state tax levy cap, officials revealed Tuesday night.

At the regular Township Committee meeting, Chief Financial Officer Juan Uribe stated that the current budget, set to be introduced at the March 17 meeting, is some $697,000 over the cap and would result in a 5.6 point tax increase to residents if left as it is.

"We are asking to introduce the budget as it is now, with the increase, with the proviso that we will work to decrease and find ways if there are any ways," Township Administrator Joseph Manning said at the meeting. "It's going to be a tough year."

Township officials said one of the budget cost hits is a $410,000 pension charge that was not done in previous years, adding that the township also lost a sewer charge from Maplewood Beverage Packers, which had its payment shifted to Irvington.

The TC agreed to introduce the budget as it is at the next meeting, but seek to find ways to cut the deficit through either other cost cuts or revenue sources.

"There's lots of ways to get where we want to be and they're not pleasant," Mayor Vic De Luca said. "It is going to be a 'hold-your-nose-and-introduce' budget."

Township officials would not reveal the specific revenues and expenditures in the current budget proposal, saying it cannot be revealed until the formal introduction.