Mtown No-Interest Extension, Leaf-Brush-Debris Collection Nov 14

Two pieces of information came out of yesterday's special Township Committee meeting that should interest a lot of residents:

Township Committee Matches Governor’s No-Interest Extension-  (A No brainer if you ask me)

As part of the township’s continuing effort to assist residents in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the Township Committee adopted a resolution at a special Township Committee meeting today to waive the interest fee for fourth quarter taxes for those who pay their taxes by November 16th to match the governor’s order. The Governor’s order issuing a November 16th extension for 4th quarter taxes does not include towns such as Middletown which had an already-scheduled accelerated tax sale for December before Hurricane Sandy occurred. Please note that payments still be must made by cash, money order or cashier’s check

Brush, Bulky Debris and Leaf Collection Update - (good news what what about all those people that have already mingled brush and leaves?)

Middletown Township will conduct an emergency brush collection beginning town-wide November 14th. Bulky debris collection will continue in flood damaged areas. Bulky debris and brush will be collected by an independent contractor that specializes in disaster recovery. Leaf collection will follow the original schedule. Brush, bulk items and leaves must be separated curbside. Leaf collection is scheduled as follows: Zones A,B,C and D begin November 13, Zones E, G, I and K begin November 26; Zone J begins on December 3 followed by Zones F, H & L on December 10. Start dates are approximate. There may be some delays due to simultaneous operations. Visit www.middletownnj.org/collection for updates.

Congressman Pallone Discusses Student Loans and College Affordability at Rutgers University

For Immediate Release:
May 3rd, 2012

Unless Congress takes action, student loan interest rates will double on July 1^st

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) met with student leaders today at Rutgers University to discuss college affordability and potential student loan interest rate hikes. Unless Congress takes action, Stafford student loan interest rates will rise from 3.4% to 6.8% on July 1, affecting seven million students nationwide, including nearly 144,000 students in New Jersey.

The Republican budget passed in the House allows lower student loan interest rates to expire.  Yielding to public pressure, in a reversal from their previous budget stance, House Republicans passed a bill last week that prompted a veto threat from President Obama, which sustains current student loan interest rates by raiding funds from the Affordable Care Act intended to cover prevention and women’s health programs

“Higher education is the clearest path to the Middle Class, which is why we must prevent student loan interest rates from doubling in July,” said Pallone. “The Republican proposal to raid funds set aside for health programs for women and children in the Affordable Care Act is a political game, not a practical solution to protecting college affordability for millions of students.”

Democrats have proposed ending tax subsidies to large, highly profitable oil and gas companies to keep rates on college student loans from doubling and help pay down the deficit. Congressman Pallone has cosponsored H.R. 3826, the Democrat’s bill to maintain the reduced interest rates for student loans.

The House Republican budget also reduces Pell grants by about $200 billion over the next ten years, which would cause more than one million students to lose Pell grants entirely over the next decade. Today, more than 16,000 Rutgers students rely on Pell Grants, which provide over $65 million annually towards their education.

“College access and affordability should not be a partisan issue,” said Pallone.  “We can help keep college affordable without cutting health care to women and children.  Forcing a choice between the two is wrong and unnecessary.”

It's Your Town - Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 14- 7/13/11: 2011 Budget Adoption

There was a special Middletown Township Committee meeting on Wednesday, July 13,2011 to adopted the FY2011 Township budget. The Committee held a Public Hearing to amend the municipal budget before adoption, after which the Committee voted to adopt a budget for the 2011 calendar year. You can read all about it in the new edition of It's Your Town newsletter

This was another quick meeting with no comments from the Committee members except for Mayor Fiore, who said he was very proud of the budget produced this year.

To say that there was a handful of residents in attendance is an over statement, if you took out the reporters that were there only less than 10 people showed up. Do you think the 5pm starting time had anything to do with this? Something as important as a budget adoption could have waited until this evening when Middletown holds it regular monthly meeting in the court room.

Included in this budget is a property tax increase of about 3% over the 2010 increase of 13.85%.

It was stated that quarterly tax bills that reflect the new tax rate should be mailed out in about a week or so after the budget adoption, so you can expect your bills anytime now.

You can read this edition of It's Your Town newsletter and see a copy of the 2011 adopted Middletown Budget....Here

Once you read the news letter and take a look at the budget, you'll then be prepared to ask a few questions tonight if you are planning to attend the regular Township meeting at 8pm tonight at Town Hall.

Two things in the budget that quickly stood out to me were interest payments on bond debt, which has increased by nearly $400K over last year and the lack of an adequate surplus of funds built into this years budget. Surplus funds in this years budget have been diminished to $600K , which is extremely low, In years past that number has been as high as $4M. Last years surplus was over $1M and by the end of the FY 2010 it had been exhausted.

By the end of the year will the Township need to borrow money from the 2012 budget to make up for a shortfall as they had had to do at the end of 2009?