Roosevelt taxes to rise an average of $35 per month
Moser votes against new budget; FAS says it needs more funding
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer

Taxes for the average Roosevelt homeowner will increase about $417 this year due to the new municipal budget.

The Borough Council adopted its $836,635 spending plan for 2007-08 after a June 28 public hearing. The budget, which includes an overall $97,490 increase over last year's budget, relies on a tax levy of $423,421.

The budget sets the municipal portion of the tax rate at 44 cents per $100 of assessed value. This means the average homeowner can expect to pay $1,185 to help cover the municipal budget this year. Last year, the average homeowner paid about $768 in municipal taxes.

Pat Moser, who was the only council person to vote against the budget, said, "I have a very serious objection to this budget. I'm finding that the council is spending a huge amount of money on attorney fees."

This year's budget reduces spending to more than 20 municipal functions while providing more money for legal services and Planning Board expenses.

Legal costs in the borough were $15,000 in 2006. This year's budget allots $67,900 for such fees.

When Moser asked Chief Financial Officer George Lang if he could provide a report as to how much the council has recently spent on legal fees, he estimated the amount at $50,000 or more.

Moser, who said the borough now has an attorney present at every meeting, said, "It's probably more than that, and there's probably more than that to come."

Moser asked the council if it has any plan to restore the spending on legal costs.

Councilman Jeff Ellentuck said there is litigation pending against the borough but that he could not discuss the matter in open session any further.

The borough has been served with a suit to challenge its former zoning officer's finding that 12 minors living in a house in the RA-400 zone is not a single-family use. The rabbi of Congregation Anshei Roosevelt, the synagogue on Homestead Lane, is leasing a house on North Rochdale Avenue from Paul Brottman for use by some of the yeshiva students who attend school in the synagogue. Brottman's attorney is appealing the zoning officer's decision, and the borough will have to appear in Superior Court in September regarding the matter.

Moser said, "We're spending a hell of a lot - an exorbitant amount of money - and the people need to know."

With regard to the legal costs, Homestead Lane resident Dolores Chasan said, "I'm delighted the council is willing to spend money to protect my rights as a 60-year resident here."

Besides legal costs, the borough has also increased spending for Planning Board expenses from $23,300 in 2006 to $54,800 in 2007.

The budget reduces funding to the borough's fire department by $6,500, funding to the Department of Public Works by $7,875, funding to the Department of Parks and Recreation by $2,450 and funding to the Environmental Commission by $2,000.

During the public hearing, members of the Roosevelt First Aid Squad said they had requested $21,000 from the borough but are only getting $11,000.

When trying to lobby for the council to increase its contribution to the squad, Capt. Neil Marko said, "It may seem like a lot of money, but it's money well spent. We have service expenses. It costs a lot to keep the first aid squad running."

Marko said the squad, which responded to about 100 calls last year, has put a second ambulance into service. The used ambulance, which the squad received free as a donation from the Monmouth-Ocean Hospital Service Corp. (MONOC), needs a new light bar that will cost $3,500, according to Marko. The squad's other ambulance needs electrical work, which could cost more than $2,500, he said.

"The new ambulance has in excess of 200,000 miles on it, and the old ambulance is 20 years old," Marko said. "We want enough money so that when someone's life is on the line, we have the vehicles in service."

Marko said the squad didn't make the numbers up on a whim and alleged that the council is putting people's lives at risk by not funding the full amount.

First aid squad training officer Jack Rindt said the squad has responded to more calls since it put the second ambulance on. He said the squad needs money to replace one-time use medical supplies such as bandages.

The council decided to keep the budgeted amount for the squad as is but promised to look at the numbers if the squad shows that it needs more money.

Councilman Jeff Ellentuck said, "Based on a quick, down and dirty conference we had in response to comments from the first aid squad, we can't change the budget as it currently appears and has been published without causing substantial problems.

"But," Ellentuck continued, "I believe there are other sources we can draw from to help your accounting needs."

Councilman Dan Hoffman said that in light of the council's good-faith effort to help the squad out with its budgetary needs, the squad should provide the council with regular updates of how it is spending its money.

This year, $640,303 of the municipal spending is within CAP, and $196,332 is outside of CAP. Increases outside of the CAP include budgeting for an interlocal agreement with the Hightstown zoning officer for $13,000, which the borough did not do last year since it had its own zoning officer at that time. There is also an emergency appropriation of $10,000 included outside of CAP.

The capital improvement fund will also increase this year by $10,000 to $30,000.

The budget relies on $245,000 in anticipated surplus, which is $57,800 less than the surplus the borough used last year. The budget also relies on total general revenues of $836,635, which will accumulate through taxes, various grants, energy tax receipts, recreation fees, etc.