Twp. Council approves '09 budget 5-1

Brick Township Councilwoman Kathy Russell seemed satisfied when she voted along with the rest of the council members to introduce the township budget at the March 31 council meeting.

"Mr. Mayor, you did an excellent job presenting the budget to the council," she told Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis after his lengthy budget presentation. "I will be doing my homework and going through the budget to see if there are recommendations to be made."

But Russell, the only Democrat on the council, cast the lone vote against the final adoption of the $75,651,524 budget at the June 9 council meeting. Russell said she voted no because of the 4.5-cent increase in the municipal purposes tax rate and the "dangerously" low amount left in the surplus account.

"It was a tax increase in the end," said Russell, who is running for re-election. "It's a difficult time for our citizens. People are losing their jobs [and] homes. A lot of surplus was used in it."

Her vote led to a barrage of questions from the Republican council members and Acropolis.

Councilman Brian DeLuca, a member of the council's business and finance committee, told Russell he was confused by her vote and asked Russell why she hadn't expressed any concerns during the budget process.

"I expressed it tonight," Russell replied.

"Not to talk to us during the entire process … that's what I'm disturbed about," DeLuca said. "At the ninth hour, to say no."

"This was a lengthy process," Councilwoman Ruthanne Scaturro said. "Did you come up with a remedy plan or another way to reduce spending? You remained silent during this whole process, then voted no. I think you didn't live up to your responsibilities as a council person. You waited until the end and just voted no."

Russell said she had discussed the budget with Township Administrator Scott M. Pezarras several times.

"We will not have a lot of surplus in case we need it," she said. "It's a dangerously low level. To try and twist and turn my vote of no is wrong."

"This budget is $3 million lower than last year's," Acropolis said. "You want it higher? To vote no because the surplus is lower means you want to raise taxes to put more money into surplus. It doesn't make sense to me."

The township is using $5,533,816 in surplus, leaving a cushion of $94,008. Both Acropolis and Pezarras have said they are comfortable with the remaining surplus and expect more to be available by the end of the year.

The total budget is down almost $2.9 million from 2008, the first time in the township's history the total budget amount has dropped, Acropolis has said.

Council President Joseph Sangiovanni said he heard "nothing but good things" about the budget when it was introduced at the end of March.

"Including Councilwoman Russell," Scaturro said. "I'd play back the tape."

Russell said she didn't object to the structure of the budget.

"An increase of almost 5 cents is a hardship for many people today," Russell said. "I'm just a little bit cautious. I'm concerned about what the future holds."

The township laid off 42 employees at the end of 2008 in an effort to plug a nearly $4 million hole in the 2009 budget.

Much of the savings in the 2009 budget came from the layoffs because the township doesn't have to pay the salaries and benefits of those who were let go, Russell said.

"If we didn't lay off these people, that's 6 extra cents [on the tax rate]," Acropolis said. "How would we have made up the 6 cents?"

"Actually, you had no choice," Russell said. "You really didn't. But there isn't the reserve we should have in surplus."

"Where do we get revenue from?" Acropolis said. "If we didn't use the surplus, taxes would be higher than they are."

"You're between a rock and a hard place," Russell said.

Acropolis said his door was always open to all council people and residents.

"Everyone can vote their conscience," he said. "But, please, if you can find a better way to do it, please come to us because we don't corner the market on good ideas."

John Catalano, chairman of the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, commended the administration for a "wonderful" job on the budget.

"There was nothing we could add," he said. "Councilwoman Russell, I guess because of your 'no' vote, I would like to give you a special invitation. Anything you could add, we would enjoy hearing."

The increase in the municipal purposes tax rate is a combination of declining revenues, the need to stay inside the state-imposed cap on expenditures, and the loss of an additional $173,531 in state aid in 2009, Acropolis has said.

The township did not ask for a cap waiver or what Acropolis called Gov. Jon Corzine's "gimmick" to allow municipalities to postpone pension payments during the souring economy.

Councilman Anthony Matthews was absent from the June 9 meeting.

Contact Patricia A. Miller at

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