Budget Presented; CCR Members Speak

South Orange residents have one more chance to comment on the 2010 municipal budget. The amended budget, available here, was presented at Monday's night's Board of Trustees meeting. A Special Meeting will be held for public hearing on the budget on Monday, September 20, at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall.

The budget has undergone numerous changes since it introduced earlier in 2010. Initially, the figures called for an increase of 29.4 percent, which was reduced to 6.8 percent by April. The final increase stands at 1.94 percent, which Village officials noted was the lowest increase in 11 years. For a home assessed at $580,174, this means an additional $81 in municipal taxes due.

The Village lost $409,000 in state aid when the Governor Chris Christie's budget was introduced this spring. At the same time, the Village's revenues were hit by reduced surpluses. In addition, expenses grew, especially those related to employee healthcare and pension benefits. The total expenditure on pension and healthcare is $1.8 million.  

According to the presentation, reductions to the budget were made by reducing health benefit costs by way of employee contributions; reducing utility expenses; identifying surpluses, new miscellaneous revenue, and one-time income; and by reducing other expenses. A to the Village by Sterling Properties, the developer of The Avenue at South Orange condos is included in the figures. Anticipated revenues do not include the scheduled debt payment from SOPAC due this month. The Village subsidy to the arts facility, $229, 500 is in the budget.  (It is listed on the page entitled Total Other Expense (OE) by Dept, and included in the category entitled "Recreation.")

Several members of the Community Coalition on Race were present at the meeting, and a number signed up to speak during the time reserved for public comment, prior to the budget presentation. Two speakers voiced their concern about potential de-funding of the organization. Patricia Canning of Village Road described South Orange as "socio-economically and racially integrated" in ways that contrast with neighboring towns. "I can't believe we're having a discussion about if it [CCR] should be funded," said Canning.

Likewise, Christian Quartius encouraged trustees to "listen with your heart" to the messages of the organization, and shared his concerns about potential de-funding.

Nancy Heins-Glaser, who also spoke, noted that she had received email correspondence suggesting a potential de-funding. She encouraged the Village to continue funding the organization.

Village President Douglas Newman clarified the 2010 budget situation as it concerns the CCR, as well as other town-funded non-profit agencies. The , a ten-percent reduction from the previous year, and "entirely consistent," in Newman's words, with other Village endeavors.  He further noted that budget workshops began in November 2009 and were held on the third Monday of each month until June. Those meetings are open to the public and were, he noted, attended by residents from "every walk of life."

(Funding for the CCR, Youth Net, and Main Street South Orange is listed on the handout page entitled Total Other Expense (OE) by Dept. under the heading "Administration & Executive." The total in that category, which includes but is not limited to the non-profits, is $247.065.)

The total tax bill that a South Orange resident receives reflects the not only the Village budget, as a tax bill breakdown demonstrated. Municipal spending accounts for 27.4 percent of that bill, while Open Space (Municipal and County) is 0.4 percent, and County taxes total 15.9 percent. The largest portion of a taxpayer's bill funds schools, which account for 56.3 percent of the total.  The County budget has not been finalized for this year.