West Long Branch 2011 Budget Numbers Similar to Last Year

The West Long Branch Council held a special meeting on Monday, Feb. 28, to discuss the upcoming 2011 budget.

West Long Branch Chief Financial Officer Gail Watkins presented the initial look at the 2011 budget, a work in progress, with support from the CPA firm of Oliwa and Company and Borough Administrator John Kennedy.

The session focused on the initial, “very preliminary” budget presentation, Watkins advised. The review was a line by line accounting of the 2011 budget classifications of expenses, revenues and capital costs.

The budget is expected to be introduced in its initial form at the next council meeting on March 2.

The initial look at 2011 is approximately the level of the 2010 figures, $10,260,893.

“We are close for this year," Watkins said as the council members opened their copies of the presentation she had prepared. "It’s not terrible."

Taxpayer impact will not be available until capital budget considerations are incorporated. Those figures are still under development.

“All the figures are preliminary, and capital is an uncertainty,” Watkins cautioned. 

Mayor Janet Tucci opened the meeting and invited the council members to comment and ask questions, as well as be the expert for the department they chair.  Police Chief Arthur Cosentino, and Fire Chefs Rich Cooper and Charles Shirley also were in attendance to answer questions from their areas.

The detailed review followed, with questions and scrutiny of where the priorities should be set.  To assist the review, Watkins had taken the departmental submissions and set the numbers to a zero increase over 2010.

“For ‘What if’ comparisons,” Watkins said.  

The difference from departmental submissions made up the roughly calculated shortfall. Her presentation used a 5 percent reduction from 2010 to try to get near or under the state caps on the state-imposed 2 percent tax levy cap.

The assumptions for expenses going into the budget year were that employee salaries would be frozen, except for increases in grade based on "step” and longevity, amounts determined by contacts and agreements in place.

Cuts were applied to other expense items such as office materials and office operating expenses, including insurance premiums and similar costs.  Some new expenses appeared for the building department rents. Hydrant charges were increased, but the issue of hydrant services is still in review from disputed amounts during 2010, most coming from information turned up in the new police building delays.

A new fire truck is sorely needed for safety of firefighters and good service to the borough. The present vehicle is 32 years old, is in a degree of disrepair and safety, and is in need of constant maintenance. The need was identified four years ago, but has not been decided since that time.

The original cost researched at the time was $350,000. In 2002 a new truck was purchased with different capabilities required. The new truck is needed for its functionality, and was specified by the joint efforts of the two borough fire companies, a collaborative effort to assure both companies can use the vehicle.  

Councilwoman Barbara Ruane said she was concerned that the old vehicle is not up to standards and has safety issues for firefighters and perhaps other issues.  The normal life of a fire vehicle is 25 years.

"They don't make trucks like that anymore," said Shirley, when asked about refurbishing, which has a $100,000 price tag.

Councilman Christopher Neyhart asked if the vehicle should be taken out of service for safety reasons. The department says it can keep it on the road by constant attention to repair and managing its problems.

The fire department will develop a long term, 10-year plan to look forward for future needs and has formed a committee comprised of present chiefs and former chiefs. The two companies will work together to assure a global view is used.  Mayor Tucci was said she was encouraged by the approach of it being a town-wide project.

Another big ticket item on the table was the plan to move forward with solar energy installations being pursued by Councilman Thomas DeBruin. The costs of purchase, operations and maintenance less the revenue value of the electricity saved are forecasted to be about $720,000.

The payback period was said to be 15 years. Neyhart took great exception to the matter being among those listed as priories for the current year with more immediate pressures to be addressed.

Councilman Jose Villa added his concern for the costs, saying technology was dropping costs downward each year. Others wanted to await DeBruin’s return for a two week trip to learn more and ask questions about his relatively-new study on solar use.   

Councilman John Aria said he was aware that federal or state grants had been awarded to other towns, and West Long Branch should consider that path instead of bearing the costs alone.  The matter remains for further consideration.

Other safety issues also were up for discussion, such as air ventilation for the First Aid building, venting of ambulances' exhaust to clear the air for squad members when vehicles were running at the building.

A venting system for three vehicles was proposed, with Neyhart wanting figures for a two-vehicle venting capability since there are only two vehicles at this time. The third vent would be for a new vehicle, Councilwoman Ruane said.

Councilwoman Ruane said she look into the costs of the different vent systems.