Municipal budget introduced in Byram

By Jennifer Jean Miller
BYRAM — Byram Township Manager Joseph Sabatini introduced the 2015 Municipal Budget to the township council and public March 9.

The initial introduction was previously scheduled for March 3, however, the meeting was cancelled due to inclement weather.

The total budget is $10,868,325, including the Capital Improvement Program plus private programs offset by revenues. The tax increase reflects $36.57 per average assessed home at a $253,014 home, with $16 for each $100 of assessed value.

The budget reflects an increase of $230,028.

Sabatini said that a portion of the increase was in salaries and wages at $129,880. This would include departments such as public safety, public works, government employees and community programs. The Police Benevolent Association has a contracted increase of two percent for the year, and clerical and the Department of Public Works at 1.75 percent.

Utilities, garbage collection, capital improvement, pensions and other expenses not figured into a department breakdown increased to $67,341 in this budget year.

Sabatini noted some item changes in the budget, such as the municipal court, now jointly shared with Andover Township, which reflects a change of $125,000. However, the municipal prosecutor is no longer on the budget roster, with $25,000 removed.

Councilman Scott Olson said he was tempted to vote down the budget, after having watched Byram continue to cut its budget to the bone, while municipal employees have absorbed more responsibility.

He said he has, for example, watched the DPW struggle with older equipment, and now they have more maintenance projects in town, including the new sidewalks. He has also watched Sabatini and municipal clerk Doris Flynn take on more work.

"[Flynn] and [Sabatini] have scrambled," Olson said. "They can only do it for so long. It frustrates me. We have overdone our best and the residents suffer."

He said he would like to see more employees come on board, though Sabatini said he did see that as a potential for this year, it could potentially be for the future. He explained, however, that adding another person to the head count could add approximately another $100,000 into the budget, when factoring in the cost of salary and benefits.

Mayor Jim Oscovitch said one of the difficulties is working within the two percent cap, with the cap bank able to provide additional flexibility in the budget.

Olson reflected on the energy receipts municipalities around the state said they are owed, another factor he said that impacts the budget.

"We've been robbed of millions of dollars for energy receipts," he said.

One of the money saving opportunities, Olson suggested, was a fire truck study, to determine if consolidation of the three Byram firehouses could take place, to help save money.

Olson said that there are three firehouses and three heating bills, and pointing out that neighboring Stanhope Borough, for example, has a ladder truck, which could offer a potential shared service.

The budget and memos have been made available on the town's website for review.