TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR DECLARES TECH COSTS WILL "BURST AT THE SEAMS" AT FIRST 2016 BUDGET HEARING

The Township Committee on Saturday launched its 2016 budget review with department heads submitting their proposals for spending in the upcoming year.

Township Administrator Joseph Manning noted that 85% of the budget are "obligations that must be paid," such as salaries, insurance, and pensions.

"What are in your purview are a lot of operating expenses," Manning told the TC, adding that "things are starting to burst at the seams in certain areas, particularly in the cost of technology, maintenance of technology, purchase of technology, training for technology."

Township CFO Juan Uribe said the TC must adopt a budget by March 2.

"Everyone says they want to keep any increase in taxes as low as possible, but certainly a real 2%," Mayor Vic Deluca said, citing the state-mandated tax increase cap, which does have some exemptions. "We have typically not taken those exemptions and we have worked to keep the increase at 2%."

"The other thing that has been mentioned in the past is that infrastructure is important, we are the stewards of our community and often times we have to spend money to protect our facilities," the mayor said. "We've also been very aware of the need to make investment back in the community."

Watch the entire hearing below: 


The hearing will continue with another budget meeting on Jan. 23.