Enthusiastic About Middle Township’s Future

Letter to the Editor:
Success breeds enthusiasm and enthusiasm in turn creates success. My enthusiasm for Middle Township’s future continues to grow because of the success we have had improving the services we provide our residents, while managing what those services cost the taxpayers. The key has been smart planning and innovative teamwork. The success is evident in the 2015 budget.
Long term planning has been an important part of every initiative I have undertaken in Town Hall. When I first took office in 2010, it was apparent that there were plenty of opportunities to improve planning practices, including financial expenditures, management structure, debt service and capital improvements. It was sorely evident that you have to work on next year’s budget, this year.
After five years of studying, planning, restructuring and implementing ambitious goals for Middle Township, I am proud of what we have accomplished in partnership with our dedicated employees. I am equally gratified by the positive feedback we have received from our residents, both on a daily basis and in the voting booth. Having a well-defined vision to share with the taxpayers helps us communicate our mission most effectively. Our financial mission has been clear since I became mayor in 2012, we will keep taxes flat while continuing to deliver the level of services our residents deserve.
The highest municipal tax levy in township history was passed in 2011. Under the current leadership established in 2012, Middle Township has not exceeded that all time high for four consecutive years. I’m happy to announce that we will not be increasing taxes in 2015 and will actually see a small reduction in our tax rate.
This is not done with smoke and mirrors, but through hard work and strategic planning. The audit and restructuring of our Treasurer’s Office will lead to even more responsible financial planning in coming years and provide better information, as we focus on continuing the trend for next year and beyond.
Highlights from the 2015 budget include: increasing the budget surplus to buffer the effect of the accelerated tax sale, growing the ratable base with responsible development and reducing appeals through the 2012 reassessment program, balanced spending through internal cost saving measures, growing the number of police officers for the first time in years, and responsibly accounting for revenue by implementing best practices.
Through a more structured budgetary process, which includes clearly communicated goals, we have enhanced management’s understanding of what financially impacts their departments. This empowers the leaders of our municipal government to better manage taxpayer dollars.
If we continue down this road, there is more good news to come. In 2012, we put in place a short-term strategy for the capital expenditures of the municipality. This plan was simple; stop borrowing money, pay as we go. We will continue to improve our infrastructure and invest in our town; but we will do it in a more fiscally prudent way. The right way to manage our budget is the same way your family does it, by making the hard decisions to live within our means. That includes borrowing only what we can afford to pay back and spending responsibly. This practice will pay off in 2017, as a large portion of our debt service will come off the books. This follows the refinancing of our sewer debt, which will realize interest costs savings of over 1.2 million dollars.
As the senior member on Committee I continue to be enthusiastic and energized to serve our community. I see a very positive future for Middle Township. We are on the right path. We simply need to stay the course.