Byram presents budget, bank cap
By Jennifer Jean Miller
BYRAM – The Byram Township Council presented the township’s 2015 budget during the Feb. 17 meeting. That night, the council also unanimously passed the establishment of a cap bank to accompany the budget.
Byram’s Capital Improvement Fund covers projects of which the exact needs are not fully known when the municipal budget is adopted, and it helps to finance bond ordinance down payments with a five percent minimum payment.
On Dec. 31, the Capital Improvement Fund contained $282,938.43 and the Capital Fund Balance was $346,862.73. Capital project requests are based on the township’s master plan, with departments submitting capital requests that range from repairs to new equipment purchases.
The Capital Improvement Program for Byram Township highlights proposed capital projects from 2015 through 2017. Proposed costs for projects the township would like to tackle in 2015 estimate at $1,013,500, for 2016 at $894,000, and 2017 at $685,000.
One of the major projects is for Amity Road, which has been proposed for completion in two phases, during the 2015 and 2016 budget years.
The construction costs for Amity Road alone for the first phase are estimated at $230,000, according to an engineering breakdown from Byram Township’s Engineer Cory Stoner.
Amity Road near Roseville Road is the first portion of the project Stoner said should be addressed, without an improvement since 2002. Previously, the Amity Road project was handled in three parts, with phase two in 2004.
The two-mile road is proposed to have its first mile near Roseville Road improved with milling, resurfacing and striping. Construction costs for this project would be comprised of $225,000 in construction costs and $5,000 for bidding, inspection and management of the project.
Stoner explained in his memorandum to the township that the lifespan of roadways is usually slated for 12 to 15 years.
One of the options for funding this project is a 2015 New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Local Aid Grant.
Township Manager Joseph Sabatini presented two scenarios for the repair, depending on if the DOT honors the grant request. If the township does not receive the grant, Stoner suggested that the project be downsized to improve the first half-mile of Amity Road between Roseville and Stag Pond Roads.
Stoner describes the section of roadway as “severely deteriorated over the last year.”
Should the township opt for this scenario, the cost is estimated at $125,000.
Sabatini described New Jersey’s Transportation Trust Fund to members of the public and other members of the council as “going broke.”
“The money the state is collecting is only enough to cover existing debt obligations,” he said.
When the township had received grant monies in the past, awards totaled approximately $150,000 from the DOT annually.
Lynn Drive is another roadway with improvement suggested, for completion in two project phases.
One of the major components is drainage, including engineering and construction costs, for $67,000. The other facet of the project is road improvements, with milling and resurfacing and engineering costs at $150,000. With the total estimated costs at $217,000, it is suggested to begin drainage improvements first in 2015, with a potential cost of $35,000. Phase 1 of the paving would be rolled into the 2016 capital budget, at $230,000, with drainage improvements continued, to the cost of $32,000.
The township has some other items on the capital plan that are of significance, including a dump truck replacement at $180,000 proposed for 2016, and the police department requiring a new four-wheel-drive vehicle ($45,000) and license plate reader ($20,000), as part of the 2016 capital budget.
Sabatini proposed the increase of the town’s debt service budget to aid in funding capital projects in 2015 and 2016. With current debt and new, the debt service’s balance will be approximately $1,938,000 on Dec. 31, 2015.
The township council also unanimously agreed to adopt the township’s cap bank ordinance. The public hearing did not bring forward any commentary from the meeting’s audience. The cap bank is permitted under New Jersey statute and the ordinance provides the municipality with the ability to increase the township’s cost of living allowance to 3.5 percent, with the difference banked for Byram’s final appropriation.
The municipal and capital improvement budgets are scheduled for a reading at the March 3 council meeting.