Nice work, thanks Don !
Hi,
In case you have been following the issue about the Township trying to get money from the Library to subsidize the Township budget, I have been doing some research and corresponding with individuals over the past few days. There is a law that passed in the end of October that outlines exactly what the Township is entitled to from the Library funds. I have attached the version, as it appears in the books. In essence, the Library can keep its operating budget plus another 20%, excluding funds restricted for capital projects and grants to be maintained as surplus.
My views:
This is all the Library is required to do. They do not have to pay rent or pay for the bond the Township issued to rebuild the Library. If this was the case the Township should also be treating the Arts Center in the same light. What about every other department? Shouldn't they be paying for the facilities they utilize? The Library is not like the Sewer Authority. The Library is part of the Township government and the Library budget is part of the Township budget. Look at the bill lists for every month. It is a State law that says a certain amount of taxes collected, based on the value of the rateables in town, that havwe to go to fund the Library.
Don
You can read the bill signed by Gov. Christie >>> Here
5 comments:
"like pending capital projects or grants"
Again, they SHOULD be asked to contribute to paying off the debt service on the construction of the new library. If this goes forward ... their budget will not be cut, nor their funding reduced, nor will there be a reduction in ANY services they provide. Remember, the taxpayers are FORCED to pay a huge increase in taxes to the library every year. Why can't they work off of a nominal increase and/or flat budget and help to pay off somehting of which they are the direct beneficiaries?
If the library does end up giving money to the township, then I don't trust the TC to manage it properly.
They haven't shown good budgeting and this is like throwing good money after bad.
This whole debacle, while not funny, has all the earmarks of high - or should I say low, farce. Our mayor, who was first in line to sign on to Christie's 2% cap, is now frustrated in his attempts to grab some easy money because of a bill signed by Christie. It is utterly astounding that the township lawyers did not read, or if they did, HEED, what was written in the bill. But then this is what we have lived with for years with this Township Committee- do as they please, then waste taxpayer dollars fighting the inevitable litigation.
It's amazing how under-informed and partisan most of those posting on this blog are.
Did anyone on the TC say that the Library HAD to turn over their excess funds?
Nope.
All that "research" gone to waste! LOL!
On the other hand, SHOULD they? Yup. These are hard times, why should they get to hold on to taxpayer dollars that should be spent elsewhere?
DOES the TC appoint the members of the Board? Yup. Can they appoint whomever they want to? Yup again.
CAN the TC vote to join the County Library system? Yup. Should they? Maybe, maybe not.
Let's hope the Library board gets off their high horse and remembers that it's the taxpayers who provide the funds they use to lavish on the library staff and on their pet projects...
LET US NOT FORGET HOW INCOMPETENT THOSE THAT NOW SIT ON THE TC ARE,HAVE BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL CONTINUE TO BE UNTIL THE VOTERS FINALLY REALIZE WHAT IS BEING DONE TO THEM.
THESE FIVE ARE A DISGRACE ... THE WORST TO EVER SIT ON THAT DAIS !!!
EVER!!!
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