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READY? OKAY, I CALLED[I. PUBLIC MEETINGS STATEMENT]
THE ORDER THE SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF MEDFORD TOWN COUNCIL FOR JUNE 3RD, 2025.THIS MEETING WAS CALLED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN PUBLIC'S MEETINGS LAW.
THIS MEETING OF JUNE 3RD, 2025 WAS INCLUDED IN A MEETING NOTICE SENT TO THE BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES AND THE CENTRAL RECORD ON MAY 7TH, 2025, AND ADVERTISED IN SAID NEWSPAPERS ON MAY 11TH, 2025 AND MAY 15TH, 2025, RESPECTIVELY POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING ON MAY 12TH, 2025, AND HAS REMAINED CONTINUOUSLY POSTED AS REQUIRED UNDER THE STATUTE.
IN ADDITION, A COPY OF THIS NOTICE IS AND HAS BEEN AVAILABLE IN THE, TO THE PUBLIC AND IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CLERK.
I PLEDGE TO APPLY UNITED CASE OF AMERICA AND TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH HE STANDS FOR DONATION UNDER GOD IN WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE ROLE.
DEPUTY MAYOR C HERE, MAYOR ABTA HERE.
[IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS ]
ALRIGHT, SO WE WILL NOW OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR OUR BUDGET MEETING, AND PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING ONLY.AND SO IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS REGARDING OTHER ITEMS, UH, INVOLVING MEDFORD TOWNSHIP, PLEASE NOTE THAT THOSE COMMENTS CAN BE MADE IF THEY'RE NOT DEALING WITH A BUDGET AT OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED BUDGET MEETING ON THE SECOND TUESDAY, A THIRD TUESDAY, EXCUSE ME, OF THE MONTH.
AND WE SIMPLY ASK THAT GENERAL DECORUM BE EXHIBITED WITH KINDNESS.
SO WOULD YOU STATE YES, I CAN.
ALRIGHT, IF, UH, IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK AT THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE WILL CALL YOU UP AND YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES OR LESS TO SHARE ANY OF YOUR THOUGHTS.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE? GOOD EVENING.
I LIVE AT 2 2 8 FOREST AVENUE IN LAKE PINE, AND, UM, I CAME TONIGHT FOR THE BUDGET, HOPING THAT WE WILL GET FUNDS TO ADDRESS THE WATER MAIN ISSUES AND CONS, UH, SUBSEQUENTLY OUR ROADS.
HOWEVER, TODAY I'M JUST FEELING I'VE BEEN PATIENT, I'VE BEEN POLITE AND, AND I CONTINUE TO BE POLITE, BUT I JUST FEEL SO FRUSTRATED THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED WHEN IT PROB THE WATER MAIN NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE 2019, SOMEWHERE BACK.
IT WAS IN THE BUDGET AT ONE TIME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, BUT I ASK THAT THIS COULD MOVE FORWARD AS FAST, QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
I DON'T EXPECT ANY MIRACLES THIS YEAR OR ANYTHING, BUT JUST TODAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN FOREST AVENUE AND I CHALLENGE ANY OF YOU TO DRIVE DOWN FOREST AND NOT BY THE TIME YOU GET TO THE END OF IT, WONDER ABOUT THE HEALTH OF YOUR MOTOR VEHICLE.
MY NAME'S JOHN VENTI, UH, 1 1 5 PARK COURT EAST.
UM, AND I'M HERE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE SAME THING THAT MS. GARDNER IS ASKING ABOUT, WHICH ARE THE STREETS IN, UH, LAKE PINE, UH, BARBARA AND I KIND OF TOOK IT UPON OURSELVES TO, UH, TAKE THIS UP AND SEE WHAT WE COULD GET DONE ABOUT THIS.
WILL WE SEE A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET TONIGHT OR NO? THERE'LL BE A FULL PRESENTATION.
THIS IS JUST LIMITED TO THE BUDGET THOUGH, RIGHT? I DID HAVE ONE OTHER THING.
I LIVE AT EIGHT ARKANSAS TRAIL IN AU.
UM, ABOUT A YEAR AGO WE HAD A SPECIAL MEETING HERE FOR THE NEIGHBORS IN
WE'VE HAD LOTS OF DRAINAGE PROBLEMS, UM, STANDING WATER, AND THEN THE SUMMER CAME AND THEN WE WENT INTO A TROUT AND THINGS WERE GREAT.
WELL, NOW WE'RE IN THIS AWFUL SPRING.
WE'VE HAD LOTS AND LOTS OF RAIN, AND WE HAVE STANDING WATER ON BOTH SIDES OF OUR PROPERTY.
MOSQUITOES GALORE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I COULD PAY SOMEONE TO COME AND SPRAY, BUT THAT STUFF IS NOT, IT'S PRETTY TOXIC WATER IN THE BACK OF MY YARD.
UM, MY YARD BACKS UP TO TUCKERTON ROAD IF I GO THROUGH THERE.
I WAS JUST WONDERING LAST YEAR IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ADDRESSED AND I'VE HEARD NOTHING SINCE THAT MEETING AND I HOPE IT WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE LIVING IN A SWAMP.
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ELSE? ALRIGHT.CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT? SO MOVED.
[V. BUDGET DISCUSSION ]
SO NOW WE HAVE A PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET BY OUR TOWNSHIP MANAGER, MR. DANIEL HORNET.WANT ME TO THE RIGHT SIDE? YEAH, IF YOU COULD, MAYBE IT'D BE A LITTLE BETTER.
CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? GOOD EVENING COUNSEL AND THE PUBLIC.
UH, TONIGHT, UM, I'LL BE DOING A BUDGET PRESENTATION.
UH, THE BUDGET WAS PUT TOGETHER BY BOTH ME AND THE CFO LINDSEY, WHO HAPPENS TO BE ON VACATION THIS WEEK.
SHE SENDS HER REGRETS, BUT SHE HAS DONE A YEOMAN'S JOB IN HELPING ME PREPARE THE BUDGET.
BUT TONIGHT IS AN OVERVIEW OF A BUDGET THAT WE ARE SUBMITTING TO COUNSEL FOR CONSIDERATION.
AND, UH, PARDON ME WITH COUNSEL'S APPROVAL.
WE WILL HAVE THE ACTUAL BUDGET, UM, FOR INTRODUCTION AT THE JUNE 17TH COUNCIL MEETING.
SO LET'S START OUT, GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHAT THE GOALS OF THE BUDGET PROCESS ARE.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO SUSTAIN THE LEVEL OF MUNICIPAL SERVICE, UH, SERVICES THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE COME TO EXPECT AND REGULARLY RELY UPON.
SO WE WANT A BUDGET THAT PROVIDES FOR POLICE, FIRE, PUBLIC WORKS, ZONING, CONSTRUCTION, AND OUR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES.
SECOND, WE WANT TO FISCALLY MANAGE THE TOWNSHIP'S OPERATIONS AND PLAN FOR LONG, LONG-TERM NEEDS, SUCH AS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND REPLACEMENT VEHICLES AND WHATNOT.
AND THEN THIRD, WE WANNA BE CONSCIENTIOUS OF THE LOCAL TAX RATE AND EXPLORE REVENUE GENERATING ACTIVITIES TO REDUCE PRESSURE ON THE LOCAL PURPOSE TAX.
UM, LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT HOW THE, THE, UH, PROCESS, WELL, WE'LL GET TO THE PROCESS IN A MINUTE, BUT AGAIN, CONTINUING, UH, TO SPEAK GENERALLY HERE.
UM, MUNICIPAL BUDGETS ARE A TOWN'S ANNUAL SPENDING PLAN, AND IT CONSISTS OF BASICALLY FOUR PARTS, REVENUES, EXPENSES, DEBT SERVICE, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
MEDFORD TOWNSHIP'S ANNUAL BUDGET ALSO ENCOMPASSES THE REGULAR AND CAPITAL BUDGETS FOR OUR WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES.
BECAUSE WE OPERATE THEM DIRECTLY, WE DO NOT HAVE A MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AUTHORITY OR SEWER AUTHORITY.
THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DIVISION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES PROVIDES ALL OF US TOWNS WITH A A BUDGET TEMPLATE DOCUMENT THAT CONTAINS FORMULAS.
YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT THE BUDGET DOCUMENT CORRECTLY AND THE FORMULAS IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY PUT YOUR SPENDING PLAN IN THERE.
AND THOSE FORMULAS HAVE TO DO WITH THE TAX LEVY CAP, THE APPROPRIATIONS CAP, AND THE RESERVE FOR UNCOLLECTED TAXES, WHICH WE'LL COVER IN A DIFFERENT SLIDE EVERY THIRD YEAR.
THE TOWNSHIP'S BUDGET MUST BE REVIEWED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND APPROVED BEFORE IT CAN BE ADOPTED.
THIS HAPPENS TO BE THE THIRD YEAR, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET APPROVAL FROM TRENTON BEFORE, UH, COUNCIL CAN FORMALLY VOTE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.
SO HOW DOES THE BUDGET PROCESS WORK? WELL, I KNOW IT'S JUNE, BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, OUR BUDGET YEAR COINCIDES WITH THE CALENDAR YEAR.
SO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, COUNCIL ADOPTS A TEMPORARY BUDGET, WHICH CONTAINS ABOUT 26.5%, 25, 26, AND A QUARTER PERCENT OF THE PRIOR YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE OPERATE ON THAT AND WE MAY EXTEND IT IF WE HAVE CERTAIN GAPS COME APRIL OR OR MAY.
UM, BUT THE ACTUAL BUDGET PROCESS ITSELF BEGINS IN THE FALL.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THE CFO PROVIDES DEPARTMENT MANAGERS WITH BUDGET SPREADSHEETS CONTAINING THEIR YEAR TO DATE SPENDING UP TO THAT POINT.
TYPICALLY IT'S SOMETIME IN OCTOBER AND THEIR HISTORICAL SPENDING BY BUDGET LINE.
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YEARS WORTH OF PAST BUDGETS AND THE YEAR TO DATE BUDGET.WHEN WE DO, WHEN WE, WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS IN NOVEMBER, UM, THE CFO AND I CONVENE DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET MEETINGS WITH EACH DEPARTMENT MANAGER.
SO WE SIT DOWN AND WE GO LINE BY LINE OF EVERY, UM, LINE THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE UNDER THEIR RESPECTIVE BUDGET.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR IS ALSO THE UTILITIES DIRECTOR, AND HE'LL HAVE A BUDGET FOR STREETS AND ROADS.
HE'LL HAVE A BUDGET FOR FLEET OPERATIONS, HE'LL HAVE A BUDGET FOR BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
HE'LL HAVE A BUDGET FOR WATER AND SEWER.
SO WE'LL GO THROUGH ALL THOSE BUDGETS IN EVERY LINE OF THOSE WITH HIM.
UM, SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE EXPENSE SIDE OF THE HOUSE, UH, IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
OUR CFO WORKS WITH OUR AUDITORS TO PREPARE WHAT'S CALLED THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
AND THE A FS IS IS A, UH, BASICALLY A MULTI-PAGE DOCUMENT OF THE PRIOR YEAR'S ACTIVITIES.
AND IT'S, IT'S DUE BY THE END OF FEBRUARY.
AND AT THIS TIME, TOWARD THE END OF FEBRUARY IS ALSO WHEN THE STATE WILL TELL US WHAT STATE AID WE CAN EXPECT.
SO THE GOVERNOR DOES HIS BUDGET ADDRESS USUALLY THE THIRD WEEK OF FEBRUARY, AND THEN THE FOURTH WEEK OF FEBRUARY, THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DIVISION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES WILL CONFIRM WHAT STATE REVENUE MEDFORD TOWNSHIP AND THE OTHER 564 TOWNS CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FIRST PART OF THE BUDGET, WHICH IS THE REVENUE COMPONENT.
UH, THE REVENUE SECTION OF THE BUDGET IN INDICATES THE PRIMARY SOURCES THAT WE USE.
SO OUR FIRST SOURCE OF REVENUE IS TYPICALLY THE SURPLUS BALANCE.
SO THE SURPLUS BALANCE IS TAKEN FROM AVAILABLE SURPLUS.
WE THEN LOOK AT ANTICIPATIVE REVENUES, AND WHEN IT COMES TO ANTICIPATIVE REVENUES, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO ANTICIPATE MORE THAN YOU ACTUALLY RECEIVE THE PRIOR YEAR.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF OUR ANTICIPATED REVENUE LINES IS INTEREST OFF OF, OFF OF, UH, CASH MANAGEMENT.
WE CAN'T ANTICIPATE MORE THAN WE ACTUALLY COLLECTED, EVEN IF INTEREST RATES ARE EXPECTED TO GO UP OR DOWN.
UM, STATE AID IS A COMPONENT OF OUR REVENUE.
WE RECEIVE JUST BARELY OVER 2 MILLION IN STATE AID, AND IT'S BEEN FROZEN FOR PROBABLY THE PAST TWO DECADES.
UM, GRANT FUNDS AREN'T REALLY A VITAL COMPONENT OF THE BUDGET, MEANING THAT WHATEVER YOU RECEIVE FOR GRANT FUNDS CAN ONLY BE SPENT ON THE GRANT FUNDED PROGRAMS AND MAKE IT GRANTS ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
SO WE WILL TYPICALLY AMEND THE REVENUE SECTION OF THE BUDGET THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHEN WE RECEIVE MORE GRANTS.
AND THEN THE, THE LION'S SHARE OF THE REVENUE IT OUR ANNUAL ARE, ARE THE PROPERTY TAXES, AND THAT'S TYPICALLY 60 TO 65% OF ALL REVENUES, INCLUDING DELINQUENT TAXES THAT WE MAY COLLECT OVER THE YEAR.
GETTING BACK TO THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT, THAT'S THE DOCUMENT THAT VERIFIES HOW MUCH SURPLUS WE HAVE AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THE PRIORITY PRIOR YEAR THAT CAN BE POTENTIALLY USED FOR THE, THE NEXT BUDGET.
EVERYBODY WITH ME SO FAR? OKAY.
THE SECOND PART OF THE BUDGET IS THE EXPENSE COMPONENT.
SO FOR MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS, BUDGETING IS COMPRISED.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET, IT'S COMPRISED OF BASICALLY TWO LINES, BUT THERE'S MULTIPLE INTERNAL ACCOUNTING LINES AND OUR, UH, OUR FINANCIAL REPORTING SOFTWARE.
BUT THE TWO PRIMARY LINES ARE SALARIES AND WAGES INCLUSIVE OF OVERTIME AND OTHER EXPENSES.
SO OTHER EXPENSES ARE FOR GOODS AND SERVICES, UM, SUPPLIES OR PARTS OR LAWN MOWING, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
UM, SO THAT THEY'RE PART OF THE OE LINE.
THERE ARE ALSO BUDGET SHEETS FOR INSURANCE EXPENDITURES SUCH AS HEALTH BENEFITS, WORKERS' COMP, GENERAL LIABILITY, CERTAINLY FOR UTILITY COSTS, ELECTRICITY, NATURAL GAS, GAS AND DIESEL, AND STATUTORY COSTS SUCH AS OUR PENSION OBLIGATIONS AND, UM, OUR FICA TAXES.
AND THEN ALSO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING DEBT SERVICE ARE TECHNICALLY ON THE EXPENSE SIDE OF THE BUDGET.
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ABOUT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND WHAT WE WERE FACING.AFTER THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT WAS SENT TO US, FIRST WEEK OF MARCH, WE BEGAN OUR, OUR BUDGET IS APPROXIMATELY, JUST TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT FOR YOU, OUR BUDGET'S APPROXIMATELY $26.4 MILLION.
WE STARTED OUT WITH OVER A $3 MILLION BUDGET GAP BETWEEN ANTICIPATED REVENUES AND EXPENSES.
AND THE PRIMARY REASONS FOR THIS, THIS GIANT HOLE HAD TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT OUR, OUR AVAILABLE SURPLUS DECREASED BY ABOUT $2 MILLION YEAR OVER YEAR.
UM, THAT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT TO RECEIVE.
UM, LAST YEAR, THE STATE GAVE US A ONE-TIME REVENUE SHOT OF $206,000 FOR QUOTE, BUDGET RELIEF.
THAT'S BEEN CUT BECAUSE THE STATE BUDGET'S GOT A DEFICIT.
AND OUR CONSTRUCTION OFFICE, WHICH IS USUALLY PRETTY GOOD ABOUT RETURNING REVENUES TO US, SAW A $100,000 DECREASE IN CONSTRUCTION PERMIT ACTIVITY.
UM, NOW SOME OF THIS REVENUE LOSS WAS OFFSET BY GAINS AND OTHER LINES, AND I'LL GET BACK TO THAT.
UM, ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, HERE ARE THE REASONS WHY WE HAD SOME INCREASES.
SO WE TOOK A HARD LOOK AT OUR, UM, HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM, AND IT APPEARS WE, IN WORKING WITH OUR BENEFITS BROKER, IT APPEARS WE HAD UNDER BUDGETED FOR RETIREE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS.
SO THAT WAS A, A BIG JUMP IN THE COST OF RETIREE HEALTHCARE.
UM, OUR POLICE AND FIRE BILLING WENT UP BY ABOUT 10%, $134,000.
UM, WE SAW A $217,000 INCREASE IN OUR RESERVE FOR, UH, UNCOLLECTED TAXES.
AND I NOTE THAT IT'S A, IT'S A FORMULAIC INCREASE.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THE, THE, UH, MEDFORD TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS ALREADY INTRODUCED ITS BUDGET AND ADOPTED ITS BUDGET.
UM, BURLINGTON COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY INTRODUCED ITS BUDGET AND ADOPTED ITS BUDGET.
BOTH OF THOSE TAXING ENTITIES HAVE VERY LARGE TAX INCREASES THIS YEAR.
BUT MEDFORD TOWNSHIP COLLECTS EVERYBODY'S MONEY.
YOU DON'T GET A BILL FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU DON'T GET A BILL FROM THE COUNTY.
WE COLLECT ALL THE MONEY, BUT WE'RE ALSO AT RISK FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T PAY.
FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A VERY HIGH COLLECTION RATE, 99%, BUT ACCORDING TO THE FORMULA, WE STILL HAVE TO RE RESERVE $217,000, UH, MORE FOR, UM, THE, THE UNCOLLECTED TAXES.
SO THAT NUMBER IS ACTUALLY ABOUT $1.1 MILLION THAT WE HAVE TO SET ASIDE AS AN EXPENSE FOR UNCOLLECTED TAXES.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE SAW AN $89,000 ADJUSTMENT FOR THE SECOND YEAR OF OUR SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL CONTRACT.
THAT'S NOT THE LANDFILL ITSELF, THAT'S JUST THE COST FOR THE GARBAGE TRUCKS TO COME PICK UP THE GARBAGE AND THEN DRIVE IT TO THE LANDFILL.
UM, I WANTED FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF A COUPLE OF FACTORS THAT EITHER ARE NOT AFFECTING OR MINIMALLY AFFECTING OUR EXPENSE INCREASES.
AND THAT IS, FIRST OF ALL, SALARIES AND WAGES ARE FLAT.
SO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE CONTRACTUAL SALARY OBLIGATIONS, UM, WITH PEOPLE RETIRING AND, AND SOME PEOPLE HAVING LEFT ALREADY, WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE SALARIES AND WAGE COMPONENT, WHICH YOU'LL SEE IN A SLIDE LATER, ESSENTIALLY FLAT.
UH, OTHER EXPENSES ARE UP MODESTLY AT $200,000, WHICH IS ABOUT JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER 2%, UM, WHICH IS PRETTY GOOD CONSIDERING THAT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS TO DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGES OF INFLATION.
SO WHAT ACTIONS, WHAT STEPS HAVE WE TAKEN TO TRY TO FILL THIS BUDGET GAP? UH, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE LOOKED AT OUR PILOT AGREEMENTS.
WE HAVE SOME PILOT AGREEMENTS, AND, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO, WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, RECOGNIZE SOME GREATER REVENUES IN OUR PILOT AGREEMENTS.
WE WENT BACK TO SOME OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND, UM, WE RECALCULATED WHAT THEY OWE US, AND THEY AGREED.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO BUDGET A HIGHER AMOUNT FOR PILOTS.
WE ALSO, LAST YEAR, RECEIVED GREATER AMOUNTS OF INTEREST ON INVESTMENTS AND INTEREST ON TAXES.
AND WITH MUCH CREDIT TO THE FIRE AND EMS DEPARTMENT, WE HAD HIGHER EMS BILLING RECEIPTS.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO ADJUST OUR REVENUE
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PROJECTIONS ON ACCOUNT OF WHAT WE ACTUALLY COLLECTED OR CAN DOCUMENT THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE.UM, DESPITE THE INCREASE IN GARBAGE DISPOSAL COST, WE CUT SOLID WASTE BUDGET BY $300,000 BY ELIMINATING A THIRD PARTY LEAF COLLECTION CONTRACT IN FAVOR OF DOING IT IN-HOUSE AND INVESTING IN MORE LEAF COLLECTION VEHICLES.
SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK COUNSEL.
THEY APPROVED AN ORDINANCE REALLOCATING CERTAIN BOND FUND MONIES THAT HAD BEEN, UH, NOT USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
AND FROM THAT, WE ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO PURCHASE, UM, TWO MORE LEAF TRUCKS AND STAFF THEM WITH, UH, CAPABLE DRIVERS TO OPERATE THEM.
UH, WE ALSO RECALCULATED OR REDUCED TARGETED AND OVERALL OTHER EXPENSES.
BASICALLY, UM, WE ARE ASKING OUR DEPARTMENT MANAGERS TO DO MORE WITH LESS.
SO FOR ALMOST EVERY DEPARTMENT, WE CUT THEIR BUDGETS BY ONE POINT A HALF PERCENT, AND A COUPLE SAW OTHER, UH, REDUCTIONS AS WELL.
WE ARE USING A ONE-TIME NON-REOCCURRING REVENUE SOURCE, WHICH IS THE SALE OF A LIQUOR LICENSE THAT WILL BE ON COUNCIL'S AGENDA FOR, UH, THE JUNE 17TH MEETING.
AND THE PART THAT I DON'T LIKE, BUT IT, I'M THE BAD GUY HERE.
UM, WE ARE PROPOSING A MODEST INCREASE IN A TAX RATE FROM 0.488 TO 0.519, WHICH IS A 3.10 CENT INCREASE.
AND WE'LL SHOW YOU THE, UM, EFFECT OF THAT IN A LATER SLIDE.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW MEDFORD TOWNSHIP SPENDS ITS MONEY.
THERE'S TWO, TWO, UH, SLIDES HERE.
UM, SALARIES AND WAGES THAT ENCOMPASSES JUST OVER 29% OF THE BUDGET.
AND THAT PROVIDES, UM, UH, WAGES FOR APPROXIMATELY 130 FULL AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES, EXCLUDING WATER AND SEWER EMPLOYEES WHO ARE PAID DIRECTLY FROM THE WATER AND SEWER UTILITY.
UM, 36%, UM, COMPRISES THE OE.
THE OTHER EXPENSES $9.5 MILLION OF THAT.
WE SPEND 3.3 MILLION FOR, UM, VARIOUS INSURANCES.
WE HAVE SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL.
SO IT'S, IT'S COLLECTING IT AND DISPOSING IT OF THE COUNTY LANDFILL, THAT'S ABOUT $2.76 MILLION.
UM, OUR ENERGY AND UTILITY COSTS ARE JUST UNDER A MILLION.
AND THEN THE REMAINING 2.5 MILLION IS REALLY WHAT DEPARTMENTS HAVE TO SPEND.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE REMAINING $2.5 MILLION IS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR ALL OF THEIR COSTS FOR UNIFORMS AND AMMUNITION AND UPKEEP OF THEIR VEHICLES.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR SUPPLIES, THEIR EQUIPMENT, UM, THEIR VEHICLES, UH, TOWNSHIP VEHICLES THAT HAVE TO GO EITHER, UH, PARTS FOR TOWNSHIP VEHICLES OR VEHICLES THAT HAVE TO BE SENT FOR SERVICING, UH, OR IT CONTRACT OR INTERNET SERVICE.
OUR TELEPHONES, ALL THAT COMPRISES THE REMAINING, UH, OFFICE SUPPLIES, UM, SPECIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS, OUR ATTORNEYS, OUR ENGINEERS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS.
UH, 14% OF OUR BUDGET IS COMPRISED OF THE OTHER TWO SECTIONS BEING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND DEBT SERVICE.
UM, AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD, GOOD AMOUNT.
UM, YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO CREEP NORTH OF, OF 15%.
SO I'M VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THIS FIGURE.
UH, ABOUT 10% OF THE ENTIRE BUDGET IS FOR STATUTORY COST, PENSIONS AND, UM, SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE.
UM, AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THE RESERVE FOR UNCOLLECTED TAXES, IT'S ABOUT $1.2 MILLION.
THAT'S 4.5%, AND THEN 6%, THE REMAINDER OF THE BUDGET IS FOR GRANT FUND EXPENDITURES AND SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT COST, LIKE PROVIDING POLICE AT, UM, THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS AND FOR SHARED SERVICE WE HAVE WITH, UH, MEDFORD LAKES FOR OUR TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.
HERE'S A, A, A MORE VISUAL PRESENTATION FOR YOU OF WHAT THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE.
SO IF WE START AT 12 O'CLOCK AND WE LOOK OVER TO THE RIGHT, WE'RE JUST
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GONNA WORK OUR WAY CLOCKWISE AROUND THIS PIE CHART.SO, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT COMPRISES ABOUT 18% OF THE BUDGET.
UH, I WOULD SAY 4.1 MILLION OF THAT IS SALARIES AND WAGES FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR POLICE SUPPORT STAFF.
AND THEN ABOUT 400,000 IS FOR, UH, OTHER EXPENSES.
UM, NEXT WE HAVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND DEBT SERVICE.
WE'LL HAVE A SLIDE ON THAT MOMENTARILY THAT'S ABOUT 14% CONSISTENT WITH THE LAST SLIDE.
THAT'S ABOUT 13% OF OUR BUDGET FOR ALL THE INSURANCES.
UH, 3.2 MILLION ALTOGETHER FOR, UM, TRASH COLLECTION, LANDFILL AND LEAF COLLECTION EXPENSES.
AND THEN WE MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, STATUTORY EXPENSES, UM, OUR PENSIONS AND WHATNOT.
UM, FICA AND THEN FIRE AND EMS COMPRISE ABOUT 7% OF THE BUDGET, WHICH IS, UH, WAGES FOR OUR PAID FIRE AND OUR PAID EMS AS WELL AS ALL THE, UM, EXPENSES THEY, THEY HAVE KEEPING THEIR OPERATIONS GRANT FUNDS OVER HERE ABOUT 6%.
AND THEN THE, THE PIE SLICES ARE GETTING A LITTLE BIT SMALLER HERE, BUT PUBLIC WORKS COMPRISES ABOUT 5% OF THE BUDGET.
AND THIS IS FOR MAINTENANCE OF STREETS AND ROADS, MAINTENANCE OF FLEET VEHICLES, MAINTENANCES OF PARKS, MAINTENANCE OF PARKS, AND OF COURSE BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
UM, CONTINUING ON THE RESERVE FOR UNCOLLECTED TAXES, WE MENTIONED THAT EARLIER, ABOUT 1.2 MILLION 5%.
UM, 4% IS FOR UTILITY COST, ELECTRIC, GAS, GASOLINE, NATURAL GASOLINE, UH, DIESEL.
AND THEN UP HERE IN THE GRAY SECTION, UM, 3% OF THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP BUDGET IS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, TOWNSHIP MANAGER'S, OFFICE HR AND PAYROLL CLERK, FINANCE, TAX ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION.
SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A REALLY, REALLY RATHER MODEST AMOUNT.
AND THEN THE FINAL 3% IS COMPRISED OF THE PLANNING, ZONING AND CONSTRUCTION OFFICE FUNCTIONS.
SO MOVING ON TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
SO HERE ARE WHAT WE PROPOSE FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
WE'LL HAVE A, A SEPARATE SLIDE FOR THE UTILITY FUND.
UM, KIRBY'S MILL DAM IS A WORK IN PRO PROGRESS AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO, UM, IMPROVE THE DAM.
SO WE'RE LOOKING TO SET ASIDE $200,000 THIS YEAR TO DO MORE PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS TO KIRBY'S MILL DAM.
AND JUST SO THE PUBLIC IS AWARE, UH, THE KIRBY'S MILL DAM IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECES OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE TOWNSHIP BECAUSE IT IMPACTS FLOODING ALONG EVERYBODY'S PROPERTY.
UH, OVER, OVER THREE MILES BASICALLY OF CREEK RUNS THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP, JUST THE SOUTHWEST BRANCH, ONE ARM OF THE SOUTHWEST BRANCH, THE MAIN ARM.
AND CERTAINLY IF WE DON'T MAINTAIN THE DAM, WE HAVE A MORE DIFFICULT TIME, UH, ADDRESSING FLOODING AND TRYING TO KEEP CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO AVOIDING FLOODING.
UM, WE HAVE SET ASIDE 505 580 3000 FOR THE ROAD AND PRO IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
UH, BUT WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER 536,000 AVAILABLE.
SO WE HAVE ABOUT $1.1 MILLION IN, UM, FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THE 2025 ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
WE'RE ASKING TO ALSO FUND THE BALANCE OF THE A HUNDRED FOOT LADDER TRUCK.
WE BEGAN BUDGETING FOR THAT LAST YEAR.
WE BUDGETED SOME MORE IN THE REALLOCATION BOND ORDINANCE, THE COUNCIL APPROVED LAST MONTH, AND WE'D LIKE TO FINISH FUNDING THAT IN THIS YEAR'S, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET.
WE HAVE 121,000 FOR FACILITY REPAIRS AND PUBLIC WORKS EQUIPMENT.
WE HAVE 120,000 FOR POLICE EQUIPMENT AND A POLICE VEHICLE.
AND THEN WE HAVE 25,000 FOR PLANNING AND ZONING SOFTWARE UPGRADES.
UM, WE REALLY NEED TO MODERNIZE THE PLANNING AND ZONING FUNCTION TO GET OUR RECORDS IN AN ELECTRONIC FORMAT TO MAKE THEM EVENTUALLY EASIER, UM, FOR US TO RETRIEVE AND TO POTENTIALLY ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO RETRIEVE THOSE RECORDS.
WE'RE ALREADY DOING IT IN CONSTRUCTION, BUT WE NEED TO UPGRADE THE SOFTWARE THAT'S COMPATIBLE WITH BOTH CONSTRUCTION AND PLANNING AND ZONING
[00:30:01]
TO DO THAT.UM, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE UTILITIES FUND.
WHAT SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR.
UH, WE HAVE 250,000 SET ASIDE FOR, UM, WEALTH WELLS THREE AND SIX REHABILITATIONS.
UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO BUY WATER METERS IN BULK.
UM, THIS IS A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT AND WE CAN SAVE MONEY BY BUYING WATER METERS IN BULK INSTEAD OF DOING PIECEMEAL REPLACEMENTS.
UM, WE ARE PROPOSING 882,000 FOR WATER MAIN UPGRADES.
SO THAT'S GONNA COVER AT LEAST TWO OF THE ROADS IN LAKE PINE THAT RESIDENTS HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.
AND BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT LISTED, OH, HERE WE HAVE ANOTHER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN ROADS RESURFACING THAT WOULD GET ADDED TO THE ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO, TO REPAVE ROADS.
UM, 400,000 FOR SEWER MAIN RELINING.
THIS IS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF SEWER MAINS.
IF YOU RELINE THEM, YOU CAN ADD 35, 40 YEARS TO, TO THE LIFE OF THEM.
UH, OTHERWISE YOU GOTTA DIG THEM UP.
OR THERE'S A THIRD TECHNIQUE, WHICH IS CALLED PIPE BURSTING, WHICH IS ALSO A, AN AFFORDABLE WAY TO DO IT TOO SIMILAR TO RELINING AND THEN ANOTHER 117,500 FOR UTILITIES, EQUIPMENT AND A VEHICLE.
SO, UH, JUST SO THE PUBLIC'S AWARE, WHENEVER TOWNSHIP MANAGEMENT IS PROPOSING TO BUY A VEHICLE, IT IS TYPICALLY TO REPLACE A VEHICLE THAT'S 15 YEARS OR OLDER.
AND, UM, IT'S TYPICALLY IN A SHAPE WHERE WE'VE BANDAGED IT TOGETHER AND IT'S SUCCEEDED.
SO WE DON'T JUST BUY VEHICLES TO SAY, HEY, WE GOT NEW VEHICLES.
WE BUY THEM WHEN THERE IS A SPECIFIC NEED TO REPLACE 'EM.
AND WE ALSO BUY THEM, UH, EQUIPPED SO THAT THEY'RE, UH, ABLE TO HELP US WITH SNOW REMOVAL ACTIVITIES IN THE WINTER.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE UGLY PART, THE TAX RATE IMPACT.
UM, BASED ON THE, UM, THE TOWNSHIP'S TOWNSHIP WIDE ASSESSED VALUE, WHICH THE, THE COUNTY TELLS US EVERY YEAR IN THE SPRING, WHAT THAT IS, ONE PENNY ON OUR TAX RATE COMPUTES TO $315,819 IN REVENUE.
UM, OUR PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD INCREASE THE TAX RATE, UM, FROM 0.88 CENTS PER HUNDRED IN VALUE TO 0.52 CENTS.
THE AVERAGE HOME IN MEDFORD IS ASSESSED AT $331,656.
SO THE ACTUAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED TAX RATE REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF $109 TO THE AVERAGE HOME ON AN ANNUALIZED BASIS, OR $9 JUST OVER $9 PER MONTH.
UH, BELIEVE ME, I WOULD LOVE TO GET IT LOWER THAN THAT.
UM, BUT IT, IT, IT WAS AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR WITH THE, UH, THE MASSIVE DROP IN SURPLUS.
UM, JUST TO, SO THE PUBLIC IS AWARE, WE ALSO WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT, UM, THE OTHER TAXING AGENCIES ARE DOING FOR CALENDAR 20, CALENDAR 2025.
SO BURLINGTON COUNTY, AS I MENTIONED, STRUCK THEIR BUDGET BACK IN APRIL.
UM, THEY HAVEN'T, AND THEY WON'T AFFIRM THEIR ACTUAL TAX RATE TO ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE APPROVED BUDGETS, BUT BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW, THEY'RE LOOKING AT A 4.8 SET CENT TAX INCREASE.
THEY'RE RAISING COUNTY TAXES, $15 MILLION THIS YEAR FROM, I WANNA SAY 188 MILLION TO TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THREE, TWO HUNDRED 3 MILLION.
UM, THE MEDFORD BOARD OF ED, THEY HAVE A 14 CENTS TAX INCREASE THIS YEAR, AND THAT IS ABOUT, I WANNA SAY AN 8.6% OVERALL INCREASE.
THE LENAPE REGIONAL BOARD OF ED HAS A SLIGHT DECREASE.
AND, UM, AND THEN AS I MENTIONED, UM, OUR INCREASE IS 3.10 CENTS, SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
IT'S, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A, A GOOD BUDGET YEAR FOR OUR, UH, COMPANION AGENCIES AS WELL AS WELL.
AND THEN FINALLY, UM, SUBJECT TO FURTHER FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL ON THE DRAFT BUDGET, WE ARE LOOKING TO INTRODUCE THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT TODAY AT THE JUNE 17TH COUNCIL MEETING.
FROM A PROCESS PERSPECTIVE, THERE
[00:35:01]
MUST BE A MINIMUM OF 28 DAYS BETWEEN INTRODUCTION AND PUBLIC HEARING.SO PROVIDED THE COUNCIL VOTES ON TO INTRODUCE THE BUDGET ON, UM, JUNE 17TH, THE BUDGET DOCUMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
WE WILL HAVE IT UPLOADED TO OUR WEBSITE BY OUR, OUR CFO.
UM, SO YOU CAN FIND IT UNDER THE FINANCE WEBPAGE.
WE WILL ALSO SUBMIT IT TO THE DIVISION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES, WHICH I MENTIONED.
THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR THEY HAVE TO REVIEW IT, APPROVE OF IT, AND THEN, UH, WITH COUNCIL'S APPROVAL, WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND HOPEFULLY A VOTE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET AS EARLY AS THE JULY 15TH COUNCIL MEETING.
AND THAT IS A CONCLUSION OF MY SLIDESHOW.
SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? YOU CAN GO BACK TO DICE IF YOU WANT, BUT YEAH.
SO DANIEL, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND CERTAINLY THANK YOU TO MS. GENTILLY AND ALL DIRECTORS OF, OF STAFF AND SUPERVISORS AS WELL AS YOURSELF ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR, WE RECOGNIZE THIS AND SO YOU WERE ABLE TO SPELL THIS OUT WELL, AND, AND, UH, SO CERTAINLY PLEASE PASS ON OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE PROVERBIAL TIGHTENING OF THE BELTS.
UH, THANK YOU IN, DO WE RECOGNIZE THAT? AND I'M SURE WE HAVE MANY QUESTIONS AND SO WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, MY FIRST QUESTION IS, YOU MENTIONED TWO MORE LEAF TRUCKS, WHICH WOULD ENABLE US TO NOT USE OUTSIDE VENDORS.
WOULD THAT REQUIRE TWO ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES OR DO WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT COULD OPERATE THE VEHICLES? FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE, UH, A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF DRIVER OPERATORS AND PUBLIC WORKS TO, TO, UM, OPERATE THOSE LEAF COLLECTIONS.
SO WE WOULD NOT NEED TO EXPAND THE WORKFORCE TO DO THAT.
YOU ALSO, OF COURSE YOU UNDERSTAND, I COULDN'T REALLY SEE MUCH BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE MY GLASSES, MY OTHER GLASSES, BUT YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ON ONE OF THE SLIDES ABOUT AN EXTRA 500,000 FOR ROADS THAT WAS SET ASIDE.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT? SO, UM, WHAT HAPPENED WAS WHEN WE DID OUR, OUR, UH, 2024 ROAD REPAVING PROGRAM, UH, THE STATE HAD GIVEN US ROUGHLY $270,000 TOWARD ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, AND WE DIDN'T SPEND IT LAST YEAR.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO CARRY THAT FORWARD TO THIS YEAR.
WHICH ONE, COMBINED WITH WHAT THE STATE IS GIVING US THIS YEAR EQUALS THAT $583,000.
I KNOW THAT WE PUT VEHICLES AND, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT ON GOV DEALS.
IS THAT NOTED ANYWHERE, UM, ON THIS BUDGET FOR ANY REVENUES? SO WE TYPICALLY CAN'T ANTICIPATE, UM, WHAT WE AUCTION BECAUSE IT'S CALLED, IT'S KNOWN AS WHAT'S KNOWN AS A MISCELLANEOUS NON ANTICIPATIVE REVENUE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE GONNA GET.
SO IF WE DO AN AUCTION, WE MAY SELL SOME OF THE, THE, UH, DEADLINE VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT AND THEN WE MAY CONTINUE TO RELIST IT TO TRY TO SELL THE REST.
[00:40:05]
OKAY.UM, SO DANIEL, IF YOU COULD JUST, UH, JUST DISCUSS WITH US THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE A HUNDRED FOOT LADDER TRUCK.
AND IT IS A LARGE PORTION OF OUR BOND THIS YEAR.
SO, UM, WE HAVE A, A COUPLE OF NEEDS IN, IN TERMS OF LADDER TRUCK.
UM, FOR ONE, OUR LADDER TRUCK IS AGING AND, UM, IT'S NEARING THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE.
AND AS WE CONTEMPLATE REPLACING IT, WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT, UM, A LADDER TRUCK IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU ORDER IN SEPTEMBER AND RECEIVE IN OCTOBER.
UH, YOU WON'T EVEN RECEIVE IT THE NEXT OCTOBER.
THESE, UH, MASSIVE PIECES EQUIPMENT ARE HAND ASSEMBLED AND IT TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS TO ACTUALLY GET 'EM.
UH, ALSO WITH OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENT, WE'VE HAD TO, IN CER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES GO UP IN TERMS OF THE HEIGHT FOR, UM, OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND IN ORDER, THE IMPACT OF GOING UP MEANS YOU NEED A, A LONGER LADDER TO EXTEND AND REACH WHEN YOU HAVE A FIRE AT THOSE HEIGHTS.
SO IF YOU'RE FULL THREE STORIES NOW WHEN YOU'RE USED TO BE TWO AND A HALF STORIES RIGHT, AND YOU'RE SETBACK FROM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SETBACK ON A CURB LINE, UM, YOU GOTTA BE ABLE TO RESCUE PEOPLE IN NEED.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY, UH, IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE NOW, UM, PUT THE ORDER IN AND, AND PROVIDE FOR GETTING A NEW A HUNDRED FOOT LADDER TRUCK TO REPLACE THE EXISTING 75 FOOT LADDER TRUCK THAT WE HAVE.
UM, IN YEARS PAST, WE'VE SEEN A BREAKDOWN OF THE TOTAL TAX LEVY FOR THE MEDFORD, FOR A TYPICAL MEDFORD RESIDENT.
I THINK THIS YEAR, BASED OFF THE CALCULATIONS, WERE SOMEWHERE AROUND 14% OF THE TOTAL TAX LEVY FOR EVERY TAX DOLLAR SPENT BY OUR RESIDENTS.
IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, IT'S, IT'S, I MEAN, THE ACTUAL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT THE LION'S SHARE AT ALL.
THE, UH, THE TWO SCHOOL BOARDS COMBINED, UM, ARE THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY.
AND THEN, UM, I WOULD SAY THE COUNTY'S PROBABLY, UM, INCHING OUT ABOVE US NOW BASED ON, UH, THEIR MOST RECENT INCREASE.
AND THEN THAT LEADS ME TO MY LAST QUESTION.
SO WE ARE RESPONSIBLE AS MEDFORD TOWNSHIP FOR COLLECTING A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE TAX, WHICH YOU MENTIONED, AND THE, IN THE INCREASED TAX LEVIES FROM THE OTHER SERVICES ARE, ARE NOW DRIVING US TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF UNCOLLECTED TAX WE'RE HOLDING, CORRECT? CORRECT.
SO, UM, YEAH, WE ARE, WE ARE THE, THE SOLE REVENUE COLLECTION AGENCY FOR ALL THOSE, UM, OTHER AGENCIES.
AND, UM, WE BEAR THE, THE RISK OF OF DOING THAT.
SO, SO JUST THEY OH, AND I, I'M SORRY.
SO YES, WE, WE GIVE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF WHAT THE COUNTY BILL COUNTY BILLS TO THE COUNTY.
WE GIVE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF WHAT THE MEDFORD BOARD OF ED BILLS TO MEDFORD BOARD OF ED, AND WE GIVE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF WHAT LPE REGIONAL BILLS TO LEPE REGIONAL, AND THEN WE'RE LEFT HOLDING ANYTHING THAT'S NOT COLLECTED.
TRASH COLLECTION OBVIOUSLY IS A, IS A HUGE PART OF THE BUDGET.
UM, THE TIPPING FEES, DID THEY GO UP EVERY YEAR? AND ALSO SECOND PART IS, UM, REPUBLIC I'M ASSUMING WE'RE USING AGAIN FOR THIS YEAR, AND THAT'S ALSO, WE ONLY RECEIVED ONE BID WITH THEM AS WELL.
TRASH COLLECTION IS, IS, UH, UNFORTUNATELY NOT VERY COMPETITIVE ANYMORE.
UM, I I FREQUENTLY LOOK AT, UM, WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH TRASH COLLECTION IN OTHER TOWNS.
AND, UH, HAVING DONE A BID IN THE PRIOR TOWN I WORKED FOR, UM, THE, THE, UH, COST INCREASE WAS GINORMOUS AND THE SERVICE WAS CUT FROM TWO DAYS TO ONE DAY.
UM, WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, SOUTHAMPTON AND SPRINGFIELD ATTEMPTED TO JOINTLY GO OUT FOR TRASH COLLECTION TWICE AND FAILED.
DELRAN GOT HIT WITH A 75% INCREASE WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
UM, I'VE PERSONALLY SPOKEN WITH GARBAGE HAULERS DOWN AT THE ANNUAL LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES CONFERENCE, AND THE ONES I'VE SPOKEN WITH SAY WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN EXPANDING OR, OR BIDDING FOR MORE WORK WHEN IT COMES TO RESIDENTIAL TRASH COLLECTION.
WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THE ACCOUNTS WE HAVE, BUT COMMERCIAL IS WHERE OUR MONEY LIES AND WE WOULD RATHER JUST SEND MORE
[00:45:01]
TRUCKS OUT FOR COMMERCIAL.THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION, UM, BURLINGTON COUNTY HAS WHAT'S CALLED A FLOW CONTROL ORDINANCE.
AND THE REASON THEY PASSED IT BACK IN THE 1980S WAS THE COUNTY WAS DEVELOPING ITS LANDFILL, LANDFILL ON A BORDER OF MANSFIELD IN FLORENCE, AND IT WANTED TO ENSURE THAT IT WOULD HAVE ADEQUATE REVENUES TO SERVICE THE DEBT FOR CONSTRUCTING A LANDFILL.
SO THEY PASSED A FLOW CONTROL ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES EVERY TOWN IN BURLINGTON COUNTY TO DEPOSIT RESIDENTIAL WASTE AT THE COUNTY LANDFILL.
TYPICALLY, THE COUNTY INCREASES THE TIPPING FEE TWO TO TWO AND A HALF PERCENT EVERY YEAR.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE, IT'S CLOCKWORK.
I DON'T, I HAVEN'T WORKED AT THE COUNTY AND HAVEN'T OBSERVED SINCE.
I DON'T RECALL A YEAR THAT THEY SAID, EH, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA FREEZE IT THIS YEAR.
JUST THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THEIR COST TOO.
SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT EVERY YEAR.
EVERY YEAR WE HAVE A COST INCREASE.
DO YOU THINK THAT THERE'S A, A WAY THAT WE COULD EVER BRING SOLID WASTE IN-HOUSE? UM, I ABSOLUTELY THINK IT'S WORTH STUDYING.
UM, WE, WE KNOW WHAT THE METRICS ARE AND IF WE WERE TO DO THE CALCULATIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, LET'S BE CANDID ABOUT IT.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES MAY COST A LITTLE MORE THAN PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH BENEFITS AND THE PENSION PROGRAM, BUT THE TRASH COLLECT COLLECTION COMPANIES ALL MAKE A HEALTHY PROFIT OFF THE ACCOUNTS.
SO WE WOULD BE DOING IT NOT FOR PROFIT.
IT WOULD BE WORTH EXPLORING MAYBE THE CREATION OF A, OF A SOLID WASTE UTILITY WHERE, WHERE YOU, UM, YOU CAN BORROW AGAINST THE UTILITY ITSELF AND UM, UM, BRING IT IN HOUSE.
SO THERE, THERE ARE ARE AVENUES.
THE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE, WHAT I LIKE WHAT I MENTIONED WITH THE FIRE TRUCKS, IF YOU WERE TO ORDER GARBAGE TRUCKS IN OCTOBER, UM, THEY PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE UNTIL TWO SPRINGS LATER.
IT'S LIKE AN 18 MONTH BACKLOG ON GARBAGE TRUCKS.
YOU, YOU COULD FIND, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD GET LUCKY AND FIND A COUPLE ON A LOT SOMEWHERE, BUT YOU WOULD WANT, FOR MEDFORD TOWNSHIP, YOU'D WANNA HAVE A MINIMUM OF THREE ONE-ARM BANDITS AND ONE REAR TIPPER BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING BULK AS WELL.
SO YOU NEED A, YOU, YOU'D STILL NEED A, A REAR TIPPER PLUS IF ONE OF THE ONE-ARM BANDITS WAS OUTTA SERVICE, YOU'D WANT TO SEND A REAR TIPPER TO, TO CONTINUE TO COLLECT GARBAGE AND NOT, YOU KNOW, GET BEHIND ON YOUR ROOTS.
AND WHAT DO THOSE RUN TYPICALLY DO? SO, UM, WHEN I PRICED THEM LAST YEAR, THE, UH, GARBAGE TRUCKS HAVE A LOT HAVE TO DO WITH WHAT KIND OF TECHNOLOGY YOU WANT, WHAT KIND OF BODY YOU WANT, AND, UH, THE SIZE AND OF COURSE THE TECH, AS I MENTIONED, TECHNOLOGY.
SO YOU COULD FIND GARBAGE TRUCKS, UH, REAR TIPPER, REAR REAR TIPPERS PROBABLY RUN BETWEEN TWO 50 TO 325,000.
UM, ONE ARM BANDIT'S, PROBABLY 2 75 TO THREE 50.
THE TECHNOLOGY HAS ADVANCED SO MUCH THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE 365 DEGREE CAMERAS AND THAT THAT'S REALLY GOOD FOR, UM, IMPROVING THE SAFETY.
THERE'S AUTOMATIC BRAKING IF, IF THE, UH, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DETECTS SOMETHING COMING OUT OR A VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPING, UM, WITH THE REAR TIPPER, THERE'S LESS WORKERS' COMP INJURY JUST LIKE THE ONE ARM BANDITS, BUT THERE'S LESS WORKERS' COMP INJURIES BECAUSE YOU'RE USING MECHANICAL FUNCTIONS TO TIP THE, THE GARBAGE CAN AND NOT YOUR BACK AND YOUR KNEES AND YOUR SHOULDERS AND ARMS. THANK YOU.
AND THERE'S ONE OTHER COMPONENT I WOULD MENTION.
UM, WE ALSO DON'T PAY CERTAIN FUEL TAXES.
SO IF WE BROUGHT IT IN-HOUSE, WE WOULD HAVE A, A REDUCTION IN THE COST OF THE FUEL CHARGES, NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE DON'T PAY A FUEL TAX, BUT BECAUSE THE TRUCKS WOULD BE HOUSED RIGHT HERE IN MEDFORD TOWNSHIP.
SO THEY WOULDN'T BE DRIVING FROM OUT OF THE TOWN TO GET TO THE TOWN.
THEY'D ALREADY BE HERE AND THEN THEY WOULD, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD EVEN STATION THEM IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE TOWN TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEIR ROUTES.
DANIEL, WHEN DOES THE CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRE WITH REPUBLIC? I BELIEVE IT WAS A THREE YEAR CONTRACT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS AN EXTENSION AVAILABLE.
I WOULD HOPE THERE WOULD BE ONE, ONE YEAR EXTENSION.
[00:50:01]
ANOTHER, ANOTHER QUESTION.SO CERTAINLY CHIEF WATERMAN IS HERE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND, AND WANTED TO JUST COMMEND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, THIS IN CASE THE PUBLIC DIDN'T, UH, DIDN'T REALIZE THIS OR WASN'T AWARE OF IT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, WAS AWARDED WITH THE TOP FIVE SAFEST TOWN HERE IN MEDFORD.
AND SO WELL DONE CHIEF TO, UH, TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND, AND WE ALL COLLECTIVELY AND TANGIBLY APPRECIATE THE SAFETY THAT COMES WITH IT.
AND I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT WITH A, WITH A BUDGET AND A POLICE BUDGET, OFTEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECOMES THE, THE GREATEST TARGET IN A BUDGET BECAUSE THEY OFTEN HAVE THE LARGEST LINE ITEM.
AND SO I JUST HAVE ONE ITEM TO, UH, TO, TO QUESTION, NOT QUESTION, UH, TO THAT, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ONE, ONE ITEM AND, AND THAT IS SIMPLY THIS, UH, I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S A SINGLE VEHICLE IN YEARS BEFORE THERE HAVE BEEN MANY VEHICLES THAT WE HAVE PURCHASED IN THIS YEAR.
I RECOGNIZE WE'VE REDUCED THAT TO A SINGLE VEHICLE.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO NOT PURCHASE THAT VEHICLE THIS YEAR AND, AND WAITED AN ADDITIONAL YEAR? UM, IS IT POSSIBLE? YES.
IDEALLY I'D LIKE TO START BUILDING, UM, POLICE VEHICLES DIRECTLY INTO THE BUDGET SO THAT EVERY YEAR WE HAVE A LINE ITEM FOR 'EM AND WE JUST MODESTLY INCREASE THAT LINE ITEM BY THE INCREASE IN THE COST OF, OF BUYING NEW POLICE VEHICLES.
I, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GET BEHIND, UH, JUST BECAUSE, UM, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE, UM, A FRESH FLEET, UH, BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DO AND HOW MUCH THEY GET.
DRIVEN CHIEF DOES A VERY GOOD JOB OF TRACKING MILEAGE INTO MONTHLY REPORTS THAT, UM, HE SUBMITS.
ALRIGHT, SO JUST TO CONFIRM, THAT'S SIMPLY THE, THE PRUDENT PURCHASES TO ADD CORRECT.
ADDITIONAL VEHICLE THIS YEAR? YEP.
UH, I I HAVE TWO OTHER QUESTIONS IF I, IF I COULD, SO ONE, YOU MENTIONED THE LOSS OF SURPLUS FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, UH, YEAR OVER YEAR, $2 MILLION.
DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT BEING RECTIFIED IN COMING BUDGETS AND CERTAINLY WE RECOGNIZE THIS BUDGET, BUT ARE WE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR SUCCESS IN THE COMING YEARS? SO, UM, THE BENEFIT OF THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT THAT WE RECEIVE AT THE END OF FEBRUARY IS THAT IT, IT TELLS US WHAT SURPLUS IS AVAILABLE AT THE END OF 2024, BUT IT ALSO GIVES US A PREVIEW OF SURPLUS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE END OF 2025.
THE, UH, SURPLUS THAT THAT APPEARS TO BE AVAILABLE AT THE END OF 2025 SHOWS A, UH, AN INCREASE FROM THE 2024 SURPLUS, NOT THE FULL 2 MILLION, BUT A PORTION OF THAT.
UM, WE ARE, WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT, UH, OTHER, UM, REVENUE GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS YEAR WE INCREASED THE CONSTRUCTION FEES BECAUSE SOME OF OUR FEES HAD EITHER FALLEN BEHIND OR WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE FEES FOR THINGS THAT WE WERE OUT GOING OUT AND DOING.
UM, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE THE LIQUOR LICENSE, WHICH WE KNOW WON'T BE A REOCCURRING REVENUE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE, UM, 39 A AVENUE, WHICH MAY, UH, WHICH WE'RE GONNA TRY TO NEGOTIATE A SALE TO OFFSET SOME OF THE LOSS OF THAT ONE TIME REVENUE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, GRAVE HOLLOW ROAD TO SEE IF WE CAN, UM, PERHAPS LEASE THAT OUT FOR SOLAR, WHICH COULD BRING IN AN ANNUAL REVENUE FOR USE OF THAT PROPERTY.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO, TO LOOK AT OTHER REVENUE GENERATING IDEAS.
I HAVE JUST A GENERAL STATEMENT I GUESS, BUT I GUESS IT LEADS INTO A QUESTION HERE.
UM, SO AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET, AND AGAIN, MEDFORD TOWNSHIP IS 14% OF ALL OF OUR TAX LEVY.
SO IF YOU PAY $10,000, YOU'RE GIVEN THE TOWNSHIP YOU THOUSAND $400.
UM, YOU KNOW, OF THAT BUDGET, THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT WE RELY ON 24 HOURS A DAY AS DEPUTY MAYOR REP STOCK MENTIONED THE POLICE, THE FIRE EMS, UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU BROKE IT DOWN, THEY'RE 1% OF WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY PAYING IN OUR TAXES.
SO, UM, AS CHALLENGING AS THESE BUDGETS ARE, AND AS MUCH AS WE APPRECIATE THE DEPARTMENT MANAGERS, I THINK THEY DO A TREMENDOUS JOB WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS.
AND THE SERVICE WE WE PROVIDE THAT WE GET PROVIDED BY THEM IS, UM, NOT ONLY ESSENTIAL, BUT, UM, AND I THINK IT SETS US APART.
BEDFORD POLICE IS, YOU KNOW, AS MAYOR SAID, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S PHENOMENAL THAT WE GET TO LIVE IN A SAFE TOWN LIKE MEDFORD AND TO THINK IT'S 1% OF OUR TAXES GO TO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY EXTRAORDINARY.
SO I JUST WANNA THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENT MANAGERS AS, AS WELL AS YOU, DANIEL, FOR THE WORK YOU DO WITH THE LIMITED BUDGET THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE.
SO, JUST ONE OTHER QUESTION FROM ME.
[00:55:01]
AT LARGE SCALE ARE, ARE YOU PROPOSING WITH THIS BUDGET THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN ALL OF OUR EXISTING SERVICES AS WELL AS BEGIN TO ADDRESS, UH, ITEMS THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAVE RAISED IN QUESTIONS HERE OR IN, IN PREVIOUS WEEKS AND MONTHS IN MEETINGS? YES.SO WE ARE PROPOSING A BUDGET THAT WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN OUR LEVEL OF SERVICE AND THE, THE, UH, SCOPE OF SERVICES, OUR REVENUES, OUR, OUR RESIDENTS HAVE COME TO EXPECT.
AND AS I MENTIONED, WE ALSO, UM, THROUGH THE CAPITAL BUDGETING PROCESS, UH, WANNA BEGIN ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS THAT, UH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL.
SO WE, WE LISTEN, WE TRY TO DO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, UM, WHEN WE HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE FROM PRIOR CAPITAL BUDGETS THAT WE CAN TACKLE SOMETHING WE DO OUR BEST TO, TO MEET RESIDENTS NEEDS.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UH, JUST A REMINDER, JUNE 17TH HERE AT SIX 30, WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT OR REGARDING MANY THINGS.
UH, IN ADDITION TO, UH, THE BUDGET, PERHAPS ANY OF YOU MAY HAVE, UH, HAD QUESTIONS THAT HAVE RISEN FROM THAT NOTE THAT THIS WILL ALSO BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE SO THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO VIEW THIS ONCE AGAIN AND, UH, ANY OTHER DOCUMENTATION WILL BE THERE AS WELL.
ACTUALLY, OUR OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION WAS CLOSED EARLY IN THE MEETING.
AND SO THAT, THAT WILL HOLD TO THE NEXT MEETING.
IS IT, UH, POSSIBLE TO EMAIL YOU IF WE HAVE SOME, UH, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ABSOLUTELY.
I'D BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU MY CARD IN A MOMENT.
DEFINITELY DON'T WANNA DO OPEN COMMENTS TONIGHT RIGHT AFTER WE WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET.
UH, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED IN OUR AGENDA THAT THAT'S, THAT'S THE PROPER ORDER FOR US FOR THIS PARTICULAR MEETING.
AND WE ARE NOT ADOPTING OR EVEN INTRODUCING FOR ADOPTION RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE TAKING NO ACTION TONIGHT.
WE'RE JUST HAVING A SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING THAT THE ADOPTION OR INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION, EXCUSE ME, WILL BE AT THE NEXT MEETING.
THAT'S, THAT'S JUST THE PROCESS, SO.
WELL, CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYONE.