Since late February, I have been pointing out that the Middletown Republicans, who have controlled the township committee for the past 20 some odd years, have been planning a 9.2% municipal tax increase this year in order to plug a $2.4 million hole in the township budget that has not been adopted yet. This budget shortfall is approximately the same as last years, when the township used a couple of one shot revenue gimmicks in addition to a 7.2% tax increase balance the budget.
In order to keep Middletown running for the past 5+ months, temporary budget resolutions have needed to be passed by the township committee. At last count, nearly 50% of the expected operating expenses for the township for fiscal year 2009 have already been spent or have been allocated to be spent.
Now, how will it be possible to cut $2.4 million from the last remaining 50% of budget to avoid a 9.2% rate increase? You can't, unless your willing make very hard choices. Choices that the Republicans in town have refused to make for the past 20 something years.
That is why, with this years increase, Middletown's tax rate will have risen 25% over the past 4 years.
At some point you need to look in the mirror and stop blaming others for your short comings.
Like Middletown, other municipalities around that state, as well as along the bayshore, have been saddled with reduced aid and unfunded mandates from Trenton. However the impact has not had nearly the same adverse effects as here, because instead of blaming others, these towns looked at themselves and made choices that dealt with the problem instead of playing the avoid and blame game.
There are two other very good posts today from Pat Walsh's Middletown Musings blog and Matt Morehead's A Voice for Youth blog that address Middletown's budget dealings.
Walsh's talks about the townships use of deferred school board taxes, while Morehead's post asks why other towns in the area have been able to keep their tax rate stable while Middletowns has skyrocketed.
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